Coastal Mallow Kosteletzkya pentacarpos
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Kosteletzkya virginica
- Phonetic Spelling
- koh-stel-LETZ-kee-yuh pen-tah-KAR-pos
- Description
-
Seashore mallow is a native short-lived subshrub in the Mallow (Malvaceae) family and is found in marshes and brackish water along the eastern seashore of the United States.
Seashore mallow is moderately salt tolerant growing in sunny wet to well-drained but moisture-retentive sites. It grows 3 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide with soft gray green angular leaves.
The beautiful hibiscus-like pink flowers appear from July to October with their nectar attracting pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies.
Use this plant along ditches, ponds and streams, in rain gardens and for native/pollinator gardens in moist soil.
This plant was selected as the 1990 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Immaculate'
White flowers
- 'Immaculate'
- 'Immaculate'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Immaculate'
White flowers
- 'Immaculate'
- 'Immaculate'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Kosteletzkya
- Species:
- pentacarpos
- Family:
- Malvacea
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Oil from the seeds have used as a biofuel and in paints and varnishes. Fibers from the stem have been used to make string.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- E. U.S.A. to Texas, Bermuda, Cuba, S. Europe to N. Iran
- Distribution:
- AL , DE , FL , GA , LA , MD , MS , NC , NJ , NY , PA , SC , TX , VA
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
- Edibility:
- Flowers can be eaten fresh on salads or used to make tea. Leaves are edible cooked or raw but best if cooked. Roots can also be eaten raw or cooked.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Brown ,flat 5 chambered capsules with a single seed inside each chamber display from October to November
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Solitary flowers range from 1.5-3 inches in width and may be axillary or terminal. They have five petals and yellow stamens along a tubular column. They bloom from July to October.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Deltoid
- Ovate
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Gray-green ovate to deltoid or rhomboid, entire to irrgular tooths on the margins. Leaves are 2-5 inches with slightly hairy or rough, divergent basal leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
- Stem Description:
- Pubecent gray green stems
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Salt
- Wet Soil
