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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