Callirhoe spp.
poppymallows
Central and southern United States and northern Mexico
Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesDeer ResistantDrought TolerantContainer Friendly
Native to North America
Overview
Callirhoe spp. is a genus of about nine species of annual and perennial herbs in the mallow family, Malvaceae, native to the central and southern United States and adjacent Mexico. Most are low, sprawling plants that trail along the ground to form mats 15-30 cm (6-12 in) high and 60-90 cm (24-36 in) wide, rising from a deep, fleshy taproot. The leaves are rounded in outline and deeply cut into three to seven lobes, the lower ones long-stalked. The flowers are upward-facing cups 4-6 cm (1.6-2.4 in) across with five satiny petals in magenta, wine-red, cherry, or occasionally white, opening in sun and often closing at night and in dull weather. Flowering runs through late spring and summer over many weeks. The fruit is a ring of dry segments typical of the mallows, each holding one seed. Native to prairies, glades, and open rocky ground, the perennial species are deeply drought-tolerant once the taproot forms but are difficult to transplant once established and rot in wet winter soils, which can kill the root.
Native Range
Callirhoe spp. is native to North America, centered on the prairies, glades, and open woodlands of the central and southern United States, from the Great Plains to Texas and east to the Carolinas, with a few species reaching into northern Mexico.Suggested Uses
Callirhoe spp. is grown in rock gardens, gravel gardens, prairie and meadow plantings, and along dry banks and wall tops where its trailing stems spill over edges. It suits xeriscapes and pollinator gardens on poor, dry soil. Native plantings use it as a low, weaving groundcover among taller prairie plants.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 1'
Width/Spread2' - 3'
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from late spring through summer, May to August, with individual cups opening for a single day. The magenta flowers track the sun and close at night, drawing native bees and other pollinators while open. Bloom continues for many weeks where old flowers are removed and soil moisture holds.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Magenta, wine-red, cherry, whiteFoliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Callirhoe spp. grows in full sun on lean, dry, well-drained soils, including sandy, rocky, and gravelly ground, and tolerates heat and drought once the taproot is established. Plants need sharp drainage and decline or rot in heavy, wet, or fertile soils. The deep taproot makes mature plants drought-resistant but hard to move, so they are usually grown from seed in place. Perennial species die back to the root in winter and reappear in spring. The sprawling stems weave through neighboring plants without smothering them. Plants are short-lived in damp or rich conditions but self-seed on suitable open ground.Pruning
Spent flowers and trailing stems are sheared back in midsummer to tidy the mat and prompt a second flush of bloom. Frost-killed top growth is cut away in late autumn or early spring. Plants are left undisturbed otherwise, as the taproot does not divide well.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons