For the low deserts, it’s hard to beat San Marcos Hibiscus for adaptability and good looks. Native to Baja California, Mexico, this plant thrives in full sun and reflected heat exposures. In fact, it is one of the most popular plants for right-of-way landscapes in the City of Palm Desert, CA, where summer temperatures sizzle. Forming a rounded mound to 3-4 feet tall by 5-6 feet wide, this shrub is evergreen, with thick, heart-shaped glossy green leaves. Large yellow flowers with 5 distinctive red dots appear intermittently in the spring, early summer and fall months. San Marcos Hibiscus prefers native rocky soils without added organic matter. No fancy soil prep for this beauty! It is also very salt tolerant.
Gossypium harknessii (San Marcos Hibiscus)
Gossypium harknessii
San Marcos Hibiscus
For the low deserts, it’s hard to beat San Marcos Hibiscus for adaptability and good looks. Native to Baja California, Mexico, this plant thrives in full sun and reflected heat exposures. In fact, it is one of the most popular plants for right-of-way landscapes in the City of Palm Desert, CA, where summer temperatures sizzle. Forming a rounded mound to 3-4 feet tall by 5-6 feet wide, this shrub is evergreen, with thick, heart-shaped glossy green leaves. Large yellow flowers with 5 distinctive red dots appear intermittently in the spring, early summer and fall months. San Marcos Hibiscus prefers native rocky soils without added organic matter. No fancy soil prep for this beauty! It is also very salt tolerant.
| Plant Type | Native, Shrub |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Hardiness Zone | Zone 9 (20° F) |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Flower Season | Spring, Summer, Early Summer, Fall |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Height | 3' - 4' (ft) |
| Spread | 5' - 6' (ft) |
| Spacing | 6' (ft) |
| Characteristics | Evergreen, Showy |
| Attracts | Bees, Pollinators |
| Maintenance | Average |
| Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Mass Planting |
| Tolerance | Rocky Soil, Salt |
| Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
| Soil PH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
Image by: MSWN
Image by: MSWN
This catalog is for reference purposes. Plants may not be available at all times in the nursery. Please check with our store for current availability.
