Finger Poppy Mallow Callirhoe involucrata
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kal-ir-OH-ee in-vol-yoo-KRAY-tuh
- Description
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Purple poppy mallow is an herbaceous perennial wildflower in the mallow (Malvaceae) family native to the central U.S.A. The plant grows only 6-12 inches high but forms mats up to 3 feet wide. The Genus name honors the daughter of a minor Greek deity, Achelous, a river god. The species name means with an involucre which is a ring of bracts around a cluster of flowers.
Purple poppy mallow prefers full sun in well-drained soil that is evenly moist to occasionally dry. It has a long taproot that can make transplanting established plants difficult but this showy magenta flower will easily self-seed in your landscape. The taproot does help with increased drought and dry soil tolerance.
Consider this plant for a rock garden, a border front or have it naturalize in a meadow. It also looks nice cascading over a wall. It especially needs well-drained soils in wet winter conditions. Purple Poppy Mallow may start dying back in late summer after blooming.
Purple poppy mallow received the 1999 Plant Select® winner and also received the Plant of Merit designation from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Wet soils can cause crown rot.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Callirhoe
- Species:
- involucrata
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central U.S.A. and Mexico
- Distribution:
- AR , AZ , CO , FL , IA , IL , IN , KS , MI , MN , MO , ND , NE , NM , OK , OR , PA , TX , VA , WY
- Wildlife Value:
- Larval host and/or nectar source for the Gray Hairstreak Butterfly (Strymon melons).
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Prostrate
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Schizocarps that are arranged together like a ring, are flattened and reniform (kidney-shaped) with short hairy beaks. Each contains a single seed.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Individual cup-shaped showy magenta flowers are 1.5-2.5" across with a prominate stamen and 5 broad petals that are often white near the base. They appear in late spring and continue blooming through summer.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Orbicular
- Palmasect
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 4 x 4 inches and palmately divided into 5-7 lobes. They are generally orbicular in outline and coarsely toothed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Light green to dull reddish-purple angular stems are covered with spreading white hairs
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Rock Wall
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
