•Status in Florida: Native
•Size at Maturity: Typically grows 3 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide.
•Phenology: Herbaceous perennial with erect stems, palmately lobed leaves, and hibiscus-like pink flowers that bloom from late spring to fall.
•Life Cycle: Perennial
•Bloom Season: Late spring to fall
•Deciduous, Dioecious, Evergreen: Deciduous
•Sunlight Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
•Soil Texture: Tolerant of various soil types, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils
•Soil pH: Tolerant of a wide range, but prefers slightly acidic to neutral (pH 5.5-7.0)
•Moisture Requirements: Prefers consistently moist to wet soil; tolerant of periodic flooding and salt spray
•Tolerance to Salt Spray: High tolerance
•Recommended Landscape Uses: Coastal gardens, rain gardens, wetland restoration projects, pond margins
•Maintenance Tips: Low maintenance; prune back in late winter to early spring to promote new growth and remove any dead or damaged stems; may benefit from occasional fertilization with a balanced fertilizer
•Considerations: Virginia Saltmarsh Mallow may self-seed and naturalize in favorable conditions, but is not typically considered invasive.
•Deer and/or Rabbit Resistance: Moderately resistant; typically not preferred by deer or rabbits
•Edible: Leaves can be cooked and eaten as greens; flowers are edible and can be used in salads or as a garnish
•Medicinal Uses: Traditionally used in herbal medicine for various purposes, including as a treatment for coughs and colds
•Toxicity to Pets: Not known to be toxic to pets, but ingestion of large quantities of plant material may cause gastrointestinal upset.
•Florida Native Companion Plant: Seashore Mallow (Kosteletzkya pentacarpos), Southern Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica)
•Wildlife Benefit: Attracts pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; provides habitat and food for various insects and birds
•Caterpillar Host Plant: Virginia Saltmarsh Mallow is a host plant for the caterpillars of various moth species, including the Saltmarsh Moth (Estigmene acrea) and the Geometrid Moth (Heterocampa spp.).
