Saltmarsh Mallow
Kosteletzkya pentacarpos
Last reviewed: October 2026
Virginia saltmarsh-mallow is a summer-blooming forb of brackish and salt marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, producing pink flowers from July through September in full sun and consistently wet soil.
Toxicity unknown
Saltmarsh Mallow (Kosteletzkya pentacarpos) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
36"–60" H × 36"–48" W
Bloom
Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
AL, DE, FL, GA and 10 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Before you buy
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Saltmarsh-mallow is a tall native perennial that produces showy pink hibiscus-like flowers from summer through early fall. This moisture-loving plant thrives in wet soils and can reach up to 5 feet tall with an upright, somewhat bushy growth habit.
Growing Saltmarsh Mallow
Grow Saltmarsh Mallow in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 36 to 60 inches tall and spread 36 to 48 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Saltmarsh Mallow takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Very tall and can appear wild or unkempt
- Requires consistently wet soil which may look messy
- Dies back completely in winter leaving bare stems
Wildlife value
The large pink flowers attract bees and butterflies throughout the long blooming season. This native plant provides important nectar resources during late summer when many other flowers have finished blooming.
Common questions
- When does Virginia saltmarsh-mallow bloom?
- It flowers from July through September, with pink blooms appearing over the summer months.
- What pollinates Virginia saltmarsh-mallow?
- Bees and butterflies visit the flowers for nectar and pollen.
- What growing conditions does this plant need?
- It grows best in full sun with consistently wet to moist soil, similar to the brackish marsh edges and tidal wetlands where it is commonly found.
- Is Virginia saltmarsh-mallow evergreen or deciduous?
- It is a herbaceous perennial forb that dies back to the ground each winter and regrows in spring.
- Is Saltmarsh Mallow HOA-friendly?
- Saltmarsh Mallow takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Saltmarsh Mallow? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.