Hibiscus denudatus Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Hibiscus denudatus

Scientific classification
Genus:	Hibiscus
Species:	denudatus

The Hibiscus denudatus, also known as paleface or rock hibiscus, is a type of plant that lives for many years. It is a shrub, which means it's a woody plant smaller than a tree. This plant belongs to the mallow family, called Malvaceae, and is part of the Hibiscus group, known for its beautiful flowers.

You can find the rock hibiscus in the southwestern parts of North America. It grows in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Specifically, it's found in states like extreme southeast California, southern Nevada, southern Arizona, and New Mexico. It also grows in southwest Texas, Baja California-north, Sonora, Chihuahua, and Coahuila. This plant thrives in deserts such as the Colorado Desert, Sonoran Desert, and Chihuahuan Desert. In California, it is only found in the southeast, especially in the Colorado Desert.

What Does the Rock Hibiscus Look Like?
Images for kids
See also

What Does the Rock Hibiscus Look Like?

Plant Shape and Size

The rock hibiscus often grows with branches that reach up to 2 to 4 feet (about 1.5 meters) tall. It might look a bit spread out rather than like a thick, full bush. Its leaves are small, usually about 1.5 inches long and wide. They have tiny teeth along their edges. The leaves are a medium yellow-green color and feel a bit hairy. They are shaped like an oval or egg.

The Beautiful Flowers

The flowers of the rock hibiscus are usually a pale white color, which is why it's called paleface. They can also be a very light lavender or light pink. The petals are often very thin, almost like rice paper, and can even be see-through on some plants. These petals are wide and round, overlapping each other to form a broad, cup-shaped flower.

You might see one flower at the very end of a branch, and other flowers growing along the sides of the branch. These lovely flowers can start blooming as early as January and continue until late summer or fall, usually around October, depending on how warm it is.

Where Does It Grow?

You can spot the rock hibiscus in different desert areas. It likes to grow in desert washes, which are dry riverbeds that sometimes fill with water. It also grows on rocky slopes and flat-topped hills called mesas. These areas are usually up to about 2,000 feet (600 meters) above sea level.

In the deserts of southwest Arizona, especially in the western Sonoran Desert, you might find rock hibiscus growing alongside desert lavender. Both plants have similar leaf colors and shapes. Often, the desert lavender will bloom a little earlier than the rock hibiscus.