Abelmoschus sagittifolius (Red Musk Mallow)

50 (100)cm, Red Musk Mallow (syn. Abelmoschus moschatus ssp. tuberosus) is a showy species from Southeast Asia and northern Australia. It makes a perennial roostock with fleshy roots and annual to short lived upright to trailing shoots with lobed to arrow-shaped leaves and large, bright rosy-red to pale pink flowers with a white or rose center. Abelmoschus sagittifolius is sometimes still treated as a subspecies of Abelmoschus moschatus (as ssp. tuberosus), however, it is clearly distinct in several aspects, so that a subspecies level cannot be justifed. For example, Abelmoschus sagittifolius has a karotype of 2n=36, whereas in Abelmoschus moschatus it is 2n=72. Abelmoschus sagittifolius petals are more narrow and usually do not overlap, or only up to have their length, and the longer pistal tends to bow donwards, whereas in Abelmoschus moschatus petals are broader and overlap over their full length, and the shorter pistil is hold upright. Also, Abelmoschus sagittifolius is more demanding concerning constantly high temperatures in order to grow well and to flower freely in comparison to the more adaptable Abelmoschus moschatus. For any rich, well drained substrate in full sun at a minimum of some 20°C throughout the year. VI-X.
10 seeds per package.

U.S. customers only: seeds cannot be shipped to the U.S.