Plants We Love: Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Plum Crazy’ (Swamp Mallow)

Hibiscus moscheutos 'Plum Crazy'

Native Range: Eastern North America

USDA Hardiness: 4-9

Height: 48″

Growing Conditions: Full sun; moist soils

This showy cultivar of one of our regionally native perennials has found its way into several of OvS’ recent gardens.  Its large, vivid, plum-colored flowers steal the show when in bloom (July through frost).  We were surprised however by its bold-textured purple foliage that is a striking complement to tall ornamental grasses.

We planted it recently on a waterfront estate on the northern neck of Virginia, where it contrasts nicely with Panicum virgatum and Eupatorium ‘Bartered Bride’.  Swamp mallow is native to the edges of salt marshes and freshwater wet meadows throughout the east coast, but has also found a happy home in the moist, rich garden soil of several of our townhouse gardens.

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A Visit to Treesearch Farms

On Tuesday and Wednesday, May 24 and 25, OvS Principal Eric Groft was in Houston, Texas for the Chung Mei Buddhist Temple Park Project presenting to the Temple and design team of Catherine Chao and Greg Yang, architects.

While in the area he visited TreeSearch Farms, which turned out to be a treasure trove of plants. Not just your ordinary nursery and not a collection of the rare and bizarre either, it is just the type of place those here at OvS love. Eric had asked his tour guide Erik Hansen of McDugald Steele (potential installer for the garden and park) to show him a nursery owned by someone that is passionate about horticulture. Well … Treesearch Farm Owner Heidi Sheesley was the right pick – she knows her plants! Eric and Heidi were off and running sharing plant knowledge and stories of J.C. Raulston, Michael Dirr and Tony Avent. The perfect plantsmen afternoon!

L-R: Lucky (Heidi's toy rat terrier), Heidi Sheesley, Eric Groft and Erik Hansen

Heidi is a sensitive and sensible plants person. She collects and propogates plants that will do well in her region, always pushing the limits but not trying to reinvent the wheel either. She loves ornamental grasses and the natural look, but does not go to the extremes of the native purists. All very much simpatico with the OvS philosophy. Eric looks forward to a long and fruitful collaboration with TreeSearch and Heidi.

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