Heart-leaf Hibiscus is a native of Texas, where it can be found growing in canyons, along slopes, and hillsides in chaparrals, matorrals and thorn forests. It is a heat-tolerant shrub that blooms crimson red in the summer through fall in full sun. When grown in other locations that do not experience frost, it can be ever-blooming. Not a showy plant until it blooms, when it becomes one of nature's most spectacular bloomers. Two- to three-inch solitary flowers appear at the tips of the branches. Pruning of the tips of the stems will provide a continued compact habit while also promoting more blooms. When pruning, keep in mind that flowers will blossom on new growth. During the hottest part of the season, when other plants may not look their best, these flowers will give color to your garden. Although adaptable to a variety of soils, good drainage is essential. Plant in full sun to partial shade. It grows 1 to 3 feet tall and wide. Use in the pollinator and drought-tolerant gardens. It can be grown in a container, along hard-scape and on slopes. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems : Root rot will occur in poorly drained soils.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Mounding; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Dentate; Serrate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Silvery/green heart shaped leaves are quite showy.
Flower color
Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Two to three inch solitary red flowers form at the tips of the branches. It flowers in the heat of the summer when other plants are not.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruits are an oval-shaped capsule.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Green
Bark detail
Smooth greenish-brown bark with tiny elongated spots. Older twigs are gray.
Stem detail
Leafy stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Texas to Mexico
Distribution
TX
Wildlife value
Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies are attracted to the blooms. Birds eat the fruits. Host plant for Yojoa Scrub-hairstreak butterfly (Strymon yojoa), which lays its eggs on the flowers. The Mallow Scrub-hairstreak (Strymon istapa) also feeds on this plant. Neither butterfly occurs in North Carolina.