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Finger Poppy Mallow Callirhoe involucrata

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
kal-ir-OH-ee in-vol-yoo-KRAY-tuh
Description

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:
Tags:
#drought tolerant#low maintenance#cascading#magenta flowers#naturalizes#rock garden#border planting#self-seeding#flowers late spring#flowers midsummer#larval host plant#border front#flowers early summer#flowers late summer#rocky soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#flowers early fall#wildflower
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#drought tolerant#low maintenance#cascading#magenta flowers#naturalizes#rock garden#border planting#self-seeding#flowers late spring#flowers midsummer#larval host plant#border front#flowers early summer#flowers late summer#rocky soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#flowers early fall#wildflower
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Prostrate
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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