Fringed poppy mallow, is a rare herbaceous perennial wildflower native to a small area of the central United States spanning Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma and can be found in prairies or dry meadows. The genus name represents the daughter of a minor Greek river god, Alchelous, and the species name, digitata, refers to its leaves shaped like an open hand. The fringed poppy mallow is easy to grow from seed in dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. It will grow in nutritionally poor soil but will be shorter. It has an upright habit and tends to stand more erect unlike some mallows. This species has a thick taproot which gives it drought tolerance but makes it difficult to transplant. The beautiful magenta flowers bloom from May to September and generally last 4 weeks. The foliage appears lacy, and the flowers seem to be floating in the air. The general plant appearance is lean and lanky. Use this plant in groups or in borders in naturalized areas or pollinator, cottage, rock or drought-tolerant gardens. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Slugs are attracted to this plant and can destroy established plants by eating their young shoots in the spring.
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)
Soil texture
Clay; Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Filiform; Palmasect
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The basal leaves are palmately compound, divided into 5-7 finger-like lobes. The rosette of basal leaves usually withers away prior to the blooming period. The upper compound leaves are up to 5 inches in length and 6 inches across but the leaflets are filiform or thread-like. The basal leaf petioles are 3-12 inches long. The upper surface of the basal leaves is non-hairy or pubescent with simple hairs. The under surface is typically pubescent with simple hairs. Fewer leaves are at the upper part of the stem.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Cup; Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The flower petals are magenta colored, fringed at the edges, and initially cup-shaped, but as they mature they open flat. The stamens and styles form a central column. There are no floral bracts below the flower of this species. The flower is bisexual.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Cream/Tan
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The mature seed head is pale tan in color and comes apart easily. The schizocarp is the dried fruit which splits into mericarps. The mericarps contain a single seed which measures 1/8 inch long. To harvest seeds, removed the ripe seeds from the husks. The seeds will be kidney-shaped and black to dark brown in color.
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Green
Stem detail
The stems are erect, sometimes branching, non-hairy, and a dull grayish-green or blue in color. The lower central stem is furrowed along it sides, but the upper stems are rounded.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central and Southern United States.
Distribution
Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma
Wildlife value
Bees frequent the plant for nectar and pollination. It is said to be a favorite of bumblebees. Deer and rabbits feed on its foliage.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Pollinators; Small Mammals
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Roots
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Edibility
The root is edible if cooked.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Slope/Bank; Woodland
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden