Botanical Bits — June 2007:
June 04, 2007
Poppy Mallows Are Reliable Bloomers
The poppy mallow (Callirhoe) is a genus of nine species in the mallow family, native to the prairies and grasslands of North America. The mallow family includes some familiar plants, such as hibiscus, hollyhock, cotton and okra. The poppy mallows are beautiful plants, offering a profusion of brightly colored flowers set among deeply cut foliage. But for some reason the poppy mallows haven't earned the same respect as their flowering cousins. The eye-catching flowers of poppy mallows consist of five satiny petals, which may be open flat or almost closed like a cup. They generally start flowering in late May through June, and often continue until frost if cut back.
The poppy mallows prefer a hot, sunny, dry situation with well-drained soils. They have no serious insect or disease problems but crown rot may occur in poorly drained soils. Its root is a long-lived corm that can get as big as a turnip! They can be grown in bare areas as a ground cover or planted among prairie grasses where stems get squeezed down or weave in among other plants. They can be used in border fronts, rock gardens, wild gardens, naturalized areas or meadows. Because of their lanky nature, they are especially useful on slopes or sprawling over stone walls. Generally poppy mallows will spread in the garden, but will not root at stem nodes. Plants may self-seed in the garden in open ground or under optimum growing conditions. Long tap root gives this plant good drought-tolerance but makes transplanting of established plants difficult.
The prairie winecup or purple poppy mallow, Callirhoe involucrata, is the main species seen in gardens, but there are a fair number of other species that deserve to be planted more. I've grown all of following species over the years and they all have been very dependable with bright, cheerful flowers and deep green foliage that remains attractive well into the season.
Purple Poppy Mallow, Prairie Winecups, Callirhoe involucrata
This is a sprawling, ground-hugging plant with stems that lie on the ground but do not root. It can cover an area up to four feet or be planted among prairie grasses or other vertical perennials. The vibrant magenta flower cups have a contrasting white eye and are particularly attractive among silver-leaved prairie plants like leadplant, Artemisia frigida or rattlesnake master. Cutting back the long stems mid-summer tidies up the plant and encourages new flowers.
Mexican Wine Cups, Callirhoe involucrata var. tenuissima
This poppy mallow has proven itself to be a showy, cold-hardy plant here in the Great Plains. It blooms profusely in June with clear pink, white-eyed flowers set among very finely cut foliage. It forms a foliage mat quickly in spring, growing from a carrot-like taproop to 15" high and up to 3' wide if given room. It demands lean, well-drained soil and is ideal for hot, sunny rock gardens, spilling over retaining walls. I like it combined with short prairie grasses like blue grama, little bluestem or prairie dropseed.
Pale Poppy Mallow, Callirhoe alcaeoides
This prairie native has more deeply cut, triangular leaves forming a fresh rosette of lacy leaves, more upright than the winecups. The selection 'Logan Calhoun' has showy open-faced 2" white flowers usually blooming several weeks before winecups. Growing to 18" high, it is very drought-tolerant and can take the heat. I like it combined with Echinacea pallida, 'Prairie Smoke' skullcap or Penstemon strictus and Missouri primrose. This prairie gem needs to be planted in full sun and well-drained soils or raised beds or it can get weak and rangy.
Fringed Poppy Mallow or Standing Winecups, Callirhoe digitata
This southern Great Plains native has finely cut, finger-like foliage and slender blue-green stems. It grows from 2-4' high, topped with rose-red, fringed flowers in June. It prefers growing in full sun, dry conditions and lean soils. Its naked stems and bright flowers look particularly attractive combined with
Calylophus serrulatus 'Prairie Lode', prairie larkspur or in among little bluestem and prairie dropseed.
Bush's Poppy Mallow, Callirhoe bushii
This species is rarely seen and is native only to portions of the Great Plains. The deep green leaves are divided into finger-like lobes, forming a bushy plant to 2' high from a thick rootstock. The upward facing, cup-shaped bright magenta flowers bloom in midsummer, later than most poppy mallows. This plant is easily grown in somewhat dry, well-drained soils in full sun or light shade. Like all Callirhoes, good drainage is essential so avoid highly organic, moisture-retentive soils.
6/4/07-KL/DM Bob Henrickson
Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Assistant Director for Horticulture Programs (402) 472-2971
 
Karma Larsen
Nebraska Forest Service Communications Associate (402) 472-2971
Dan Moser IANR News Service (402) 472-3007
Department:
Nebraska Statewide Arboretum
|
