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 December
2001
 Iris
unguicularis
November
2001
Hymenoxis
herbacea
October
2001
Pellaea
atropurpurea
September
2001
Zauschneria
garrettii
August
2001
Platycodon
grandiflorum
'Sentimental
Blue'
 July
2001
Callirhoe
involucrata
June
2001
Helianthemum
nummularium
hybrids
May
2001
Viola
pedata 'Bicolor'
April
2001
Anemonella
thalictroides
March
2001
Fritillaria
pudica
February
2001
Castilleja
rupicola
January
2001
Lupinus
lepidus var. lobbii
Archive 2004
Archive
2003
Archive
2002
Archive
2000
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1999
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1998
Archive
1997
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Plant
of the Month
July
2001
Callirhoe
involucrata
by Iza Goroff
Callirhoe
involucrata is a member of the Malvaceae family, the
mallows, a family which also includes Hibiscus, hollyhocks,
rose of sharon, and the real marshmallow. One of its many
popular names is purple poppy mallow.
Callirhoe involucrata is native
to sandy and dry soils in the Middle West of the USA, found
from Minnesota to Texas and from Ohio west to Wyoming.
Callirhoe
involucrata is a large and sprawly herbaceous plant,
suitable for the large rock garden. It has palmate leaves
about 4" (10 cm) long with 4" petioles. A single plant can
be 3' (1 m) across, although its height is likely to be less
than 8" (20 cm). There are very few plants which can make
the summer time show that Callirhoe
involucrata can. Its numerous flowers are about 2" (5
cm across), bright red to magenta, produced over a long
period.
Callirhoe
involucrata is a plant for sunny sites and well
drained soils. Although found in sandy soils, it can thrive
in ordinary garden soil. It is especially effective in a
south or west facing wall. It should be hardy throughout the
48 contiguous states, southern Canada and southern Alaska if
well drained in the winter time.
There are
several other species in the genus Callirhoe, each of which
has similar flowers but varying in leaf forms and more
obscure botanical details. Callirhoe
digitata is the other species most likely to be
encountered.
Propagation is best by seeds.
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