Fringed Poppy-mallow Callirhoe digitata
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Malva digitata
- Monolix digitata
- Nuttallia cordata
- Nuttallia digitata
- Sesquicella digitata
- Sida digitata
- Sida pedata
- Phonetic Spelling
- kal-ir-OH-ee dig-ee-TAH-tuh
- Description
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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.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Callirhoe
- Species:
- digitata
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and Southern United States.
- Distribution:
- Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- 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.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought
- Edibility:
- The root is edible if cooked.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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 To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 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.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 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.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Filiform
- Palmasect
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 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.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- 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.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
