Today's Hibiscus of the Day is Scarlet Rose Mallow (Hibiscus coccineus).

This plant can be found in the ATP Plant Database at:
Texas Star (Hibiscus coccineus) .

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Texas Star (Hibiscus coccineus)

I started mine from seed three years ago. It's been in the same container it's whole life. The first two years I neglected it and it always had white flies on it. This year it bloomed for the first time because I gave it water everyday and fertilizer once a week. It's in an area that gets morning sun and afternoon shade.

I love the Texas Star Hibiscus, the color is beautiful and the simplicity of the flower makes it even more interesting.
The plant in the picture was growing in full sun and was started from seed. The unusual part about this particular plant is that the three flowers are different from each other. One flower has the usual five petals, while the next has six petals and the third one has seven.
I have never seen this anomaly before or after, so I think it is very unique.

I was going to say ditto what Frost weed was saying until the leaves
How cool is that !

Do they only come in Red and White or is pink H. coccineus also in existence?

I think there is a pink one, but I have only seen it once.

I love this species! I think the petal separation with the apple-green contrast of the calyx is just gorgeous.
It seems like this species is being used in hybridization but the starry shape of the flowers is getting lost. Most hybrids seem to have large, overlapping petals (more like their H. moscheutos ancestors.) I wonder if that is a dominate trait or if it is just the breeders' preferred form?

I love that photo, Frostweed! Too fun!

I've actually never seen a pink H. coccineus that appeared to be the pure species. Hibiscus x 'Lady Baltimore' looks similar but that is a hybrid, of course. You would think that with both red and white versions available that there would be some pink but maybe the genetics just don't work that way because of an unusual mutation.

Danita said:
You would think that with both red and white versions available that there would be some pink but maybe the genetics just don't work that way because of an unusual mutation.

I was wondering about that also. You would think red and white would make pink, but then if it did surely someone would have done it by now. I have never seen a pure pink Hibiscus coccineus, just those that are crossed with H. moscheutos or others.