Malvaviscus drummondii
Family: Malvaceae
Plant Description: Perennial shrub to 1 m or higher, limbs often falling over. Leaves 3-12 cm wide and about as long, toothed and commonly 3-lobed, hairy alternate, roundish to ovate, base more or less heart shaped. flowers solitary or in leafy panicles. Petals 2-3 cm long, red.
Plant Trivia: Plants growing in sandy Live Oak motts tend to be hairier than the norm. Named in honor of Thomas Drummond, who did extensive plant collecting in Central Texas in the 1830’s
Field Identification:
Occurrence: Frequent on loamy soils in in pastures and woods, often shaded
Bloom Period: Spring-Fall.
Plant Use: Good plant for growing in shady posts in yard. It is a hot plant for Mallow Scrub-hairstreak and Turk’s Cap White-skipper butterflies. Flowers are important nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies.
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