Click on any image to open the slideshow
Muenchhusia coccinea (Walter) M.M.Hanes & R.L.Barrett
Scarlet Rosemallow
Scarlet Hibiscus
Synonym(s): Hibiscus coccineus (Medik.) Walter
Florida native
An occasional shrub-like plant of swamps and other wet areas found mostly in the central and northeast peninsula and also some counties of south Florida and the panhandle. Scarlet rosemallow ranges throughout the southeastern coastal states from Virginia to Louisiana plus Arkansas.
The large distinctive flowers are up to 20 cm across and have five bright red petals. Muenchhusia coccinea has a green five-lobed calyx and linear, entire and unforked bracts. Scarlet hibiscus blooms in summer, mostly in July and early August.
The leaves are palmately divided into 3 or 5 lobes on long stalks. The leaves look very similar to Cannabis sativa - marijuana - although the Hibiscus leaves are typically less toothed.
Previously known as Hibiscus coccineus, this and several other Hibiscus species have been moved to the genus Muenchhusia.
Muenchhusia coccinea is a member of the Malvaceae - Mallow family.
Other species of the Muenchhusia genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Muenchhusia grandiflora - SWAMP ROSEMALLOW
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
iNaturalist profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Jun 14, 2026
