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Pavonia hastata

spearleaf swampmallow

Malvaceae South America

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Pavonia hastata is a small woody subshrub in the family Malvaceae, growing 2-5 feet (0.6-1.5 m) tall with slender, sparingly branched stems. The leaves are spear- to arrow-shaped (hastate), 1.5-3 inches (4-8 cm) long, with a pair of basal lobes, grey-green and roughly hairy. Hibiscus-like flowers about 1.5-2.5 inches (4-6 cm) across open from pale pink to cream petals, each marked with a deep red to maroon blotch at the base, forming a dark centre. Flowers open through summer and autumn and often last a single day. Many flowers also set seed without fully opening, which aids rapid spread. The species is native to South America and has naturalised in eastern Australia, where it grows in pasture, roadsides, disturbed ground, and bushland margins on a range of soils. It is regarded as an environmental weed in parts of New South Wales and Queensland because of its prolific self-seeding. It withstands drought and poor soils once established and reshoots from the base after damage. In cultivation it flowers freely but readily escapes through seed. Cutting plants back before seed set limits spread.

Native Range

Pavonia hastata is native to South America, including Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. It has naturalised in eastern Australia, growing in pasture, roadsides, disturbed ground, and bushland margins, where it is regarded as an environmental weed in some districts.

Suggested Uses

Pavonia hastata is sometimes grown for its pale, dark-centred flowers, but its prolific seeding limits its garden use. Where grown, it is kept in contained beds away from bushland. Removal before seeding reduces its spread into natural areas.

How to Identify

Identify Pavonia hastata by its spear- to arrow-shaped leaves with a pair of basal lobes, grey-green and roughly hairy. Hibiscus-like flowers 1.5-2.5 inches (4-6 cm) across show pale pink to cream petals with a deep red to maroon blotch forming a dark centre. Many flowers set seed without fully opening. The hastate leaves and dark-centred pale flowers separate it from native Hibiscus spp. species of the same range.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 5'

Width/Spread2' - 3'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering occurs through summer and autumn, around December to May in its naturalised range. Pale pink to cream flowers with a dark red centre open singly and often last a single day. Self-pollinating closed flowers also set seed over the same period.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pale pink to cream with red centre

Foliage Description

grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-12 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Pavonia hastata grows in full sun to part shade on a wide range of soils, including poor and dry ground. It withstands drought once established and reshoots from the base after cutting or frost. Water is needed only during establishment. The plant sets seed prolifically, so cutting back before seed set limits its spread into bushland. In districts where it is an environmental weed, removal of plants before seeding reduces its build-up. No feeding is needed for steady growth.

Pruning

Cut Pavonia hastata back hard before seed set to limit self-seeding and keep the habit compact. The subshrub reshoots from the base after pruning. Spent flowering stems are removed to reduce seed spread.