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James H. Schutte
Malvaceae
ABELMOSCHUS moschatus
Musk Okra, Muskmallow
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
Hairy foliage and pretty, colorful hibiscus-like flowers make the musk mallow a favorite warm season garden accent. A tender herbaceous perennial from southern Asia that is most often grown as a bedding annual, its flowers occur from summer to frost and are usually bicolored yellow with a purple eye, but variations with pink, orange or red blossoms with a white eye are now common as both named and unnamed garden cultivars, too.
The busky plant with many upright stems will be clothed in coarse-textured foliage that is hairy. Each deep green leaf has three to seven lobes. From early summer onwards, tennis ball-sized flowers occur at stem tips and attract butterflies. Flowers are usually yellow with a purplish center that each lasts only one day. The sandy brown seedpods will hold musky-scented seeds. Frost will kill the plant to the ground; mild winter areas will see the plant rejuvenate in springtime.
Grow musk mallow in full sun to light shade in the hottest climates in a fertile, well-drained soil that is moist. It is adaptable to a wide range of soil pH except very alkaline. Where frosts do not kill back stems each winter, prune the plant back each spring to form a handsome plant by the summer. Use it as an accent in the mixed border where its tall stems topped in flowers would be appreciated. It often reseeds itself and pops up each year, lending itself well to use in annual beds. It can be cultured as a houseplant in very bright, warm windows. Selection 'Mischief' is a bit smaller in size and well-suited for container use and has rose-magenta flowers with a pinkish white center.
12 - 1
8 - 12
H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Tender Perennial
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
4'-5' / 1.2m - 1.5m
16"-22" / 40.6cm - 55.9cm
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall, Early Winter
Southern Asia, Southeastern Asia
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Well Drained
Clay, Loam, Sand
Fast
Average Water
Upright/Erect
Summer, Fall
Showy
White, Yellow, Red, Purple, Orange, Pink
Bicolor
Sandy Brown
Green
Dark Green
No
Yes
Single
Coarse
Matte
Semi-Evergreen
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Wildflower
Butterflies
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