About Hibiscus aculeatus Walter
Hibiscus aculeatus Walter is a flowering perennial shrub in the mallow family, Malvaceae. According to Weakley's description, it has harshly scabrous stems and three-lobed leaves. Its petals have a distinctive pattern: a dark red inner circle surrounded by an outer cream to white circle, which can be used to identify the flower. This species flowers from late spring to early fall, and it is pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees. Hibiscus aculeatus is a wetland plant native to the southeastern United States, ranging from Texas to South Carolina, and it has been introduced to Bangladesh. It grows in warm tropical and subtropical climates, and can be found in bogs, ditches, savannahs, and hydric to mesic pine flatwoods. A distribution map is located below the species information box. Natural heritage records for Hibiscus aculeatus exist in the 03 watershed region for the following watersheds, listed with their codes: Pamlico Sound (03020105), White Oak River (03020301), Lower Cape Fear (03030005), and Lumber (03040203).
