Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) is in the Mallow and Hibiscus Family family (Malvaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,793 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Swamp Rose Mallow: observations by month (U.S.)
About Swamp Rose Mallow
Hibiscus moscheutos (rose mallow, swamp rose-mallow, crimsoneyed rosemallow, eastern rosemallow) is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It is a cold-hardy perennial wetland plant that can grow in large colonies. The hirsute leaves are of variable morphology, but are commonly deltoidal in shape with up to three lobes. It is found in wetlands and along the riverine systems of the southeastern United States from Texas to the Atlantic states, its territory extending northward...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Swamp Rose Mallow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 915 | August | Jul–Aug |
| North Carolina | 567 | July | Jul–Aug |
| New York | 297 | August | Jul–Aug |
| New Jersey | 236 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Indiana | 229 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Illinois | 214 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 209 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Virginia | 199 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 189 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Maryland | 135 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Michigan | 96 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Tennessee | 82 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Kentucky | 62 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Delaware | 53 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Georgia | 43 | June | Jun–Jul |
| West Virginia | 39 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Connecticut | 34 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Alabama | 30 | June | May–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 28 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Florida | 22 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Mississippi | 22 | June | Jun–Jul |
| District of Columbia | 21 | July | Jul–Sep |
| South Carolina | 17 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Missouri | 16 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Iowa | 13 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 7 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Texas | 6 | July | Jul–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Mallow and Hibiscus Family)
Checkerbloom
Turk's cap
Apricot Globemallow
Cretan mallow
Southern Coastal Bushmallow
Common Hibiscus
Cheeseweed Mallow
Pineland Hibiscus
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Swamp Rose Mallow?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from July to August.
Where is Swamp Rose Mallow most often seen?
The most observations come from Ohio, North Carolina, New York.