Callirhoe

( kal - LIHR - oh - ee )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of grassland flowering plants is native to North America. Species are commonly referred to as Poppy Mallows, and their flowers will attract beneficial insects to your garden. Blooms are cup-shaped, similar to those of Poppy plants, and are typically bright pink to magenta in color. They are perfect for drier climates, and bloom in spring and summertime. Grow these flowers in pollinator, informal, cottage, or native plant gardens. They are great in mixed beds and borders, in the outskirts of the garden (where there isn't formal irrigation), or as flower interest in drought-tolerant landscapes.

Callirhoe species and varietals

The genus Callirhoe includes 9 species and is a member of the plant family Malvaceae. The genus is named for the Greek mythological being Callirrhoe. The growing zones for these flowers vary depending on the species; for more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Callirhoe bushii (Bush's Poppy Mallow, Bush's Wine Cups, French Hollyhock, High Mallow)
This vulnerable species is native to Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Iowa, and is commonly grown as an ornamental. It was first described in 1909, named for Benjamin Franklin Bush, an American ornithologist and botanist. This species does well when grown in USDA hardiness zones 5-8. Flowers are pink with white centers and leaves are green.

Callirhoe digitata (Fringed Poppy Mallow, Standing Wine Cup)
These perennials are native to Arkansas, Alabama, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Illinois. Flowers produced by these plants are magenta-blue and petals have wavy edges. These plants thrive in full sun exposure and like drier, more alkaline soils. Fringed Poppy Mallow is fantastic for borders and mixed beds in both formal and informal plantings, and does best in USDA hardiness zones 4-8.

Callirhoe involucrata (Purple Poppy-Mallow, Winecup, Buffalo Rose, Finger Poppy Mallow)
These plants are native to the Great Plains area of the United States, and produce profuse blooms of purplish-red flowers in the warmer months. The foliage has a spreading habit, and individual plants reach just 6 inches tall and spread to 2-3 feet wide. They grow best in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 or Sunset growing zones 1-3, 7-14 and 18-24.

Callirhoe scabriuscula (Texas Poppy Mallow)
This species is endemic to Texas, where it grows along the Colorado River. It is an endangered species due to habitat loss and grows well in USDA hardiness zones 7a-9b. These plants are perennials and can reach over three feet tall when mature and in bloom. Flowering occurs between May and June, with blooms opening in the morning and closing in the evening. Flowers last between 6 and 8 days, and once pollinated, will close within about an hour and a half and begin to wither.

Callirhoe triangulata (Custered Poppymallow)
These plants reach 2 feet tall and are native to the river valleys in the upper Midwest U.S.. This species prefers to be grown in sandy soils, and produces bright pink flowers in spring and summertime. Clustered Poppymallow does well in USDA hardiness zones 4-8.

Caring for Callirhoe

Plant Poppy Mallows in an area of the garden that receives full sun; between 6 and 8 hours each day is ideal for the best blooms. In areas that have extremely hot climates, these flowers will need some afternoon shade when temperatures are at their peak. These plants can be installed in the outskirts of the garden as they do not require any formal irrigation to do well. When these flowers are grown in less light, they will not flower as profusely. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Provide water to these plants for the first year in the ground to assist them in developing a strong taproot system. After they are mature, they do not need to be watered.

Fertilizing these plants is not necessary; they can perform well even in poor soils. No pruning is needed other than to deadhead for a neater appearance. If plants are getting leggy, they can be sheared back by about half to maintain a bushier habit. Annual species can be pulled at the end of the growing season or left in place to enrich soil. Perennial species can last for a few years before needing to be replaced. Both annual and perennial species will re-seed freely in the landscape, providing flowers indefinitely.

Propagation

Callirhoe can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Poppy Mallow plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Callirhoe by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new flowers.

Propagating Callirhoe by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on Callirhoe plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have begun to dry out, you can harvest the seeds. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to release their seeds. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Callirhoe seeds need a period of cold stratification to germinate. Place harvested seeds in a damp mixture of sand or peat moss in a sealable container or plastic bag, and place the container in the refrigerator for at least two to three months' time. Remove the seeds from their bed after the cold stratification period, and then scarify them by rubbing them against sandpaper, or nick them with a blade. Next, soak them in lukewarm water for between 12 and 24 hours. Viable seeds will sink, and any that float can be discarded, as they will not germinate.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.