Seashore Mallow

Kosteletzkya virginica

Seashore Mallow blooms from summer through frost with a continuous parade of soft pink hibiscus-like flowers. open for just one day each, but new ones appearing reliably every morning. The flowers are smaller than the dramatic swamp hibiscus but appear in far greater numbers and over a much longer period, making the overall effect just as impressive through the long season. Hummingbirds and native bees visit constantly. It thrives in wet, salty, or brackish conditions that challenge most garden plants, making it genuinely irreplaceable for coastal rain gardens, tide-influenced wet areas, and the margins of retention ponds. The grey-green, velvety foliage is attractive all season and the plant has an open, somewhat wild character that suits naturalistic garden settings well. A remarkable plant for challenging coastal sites.