Pavonia brasiliensis

(syn: Hibiscus brasiliensis, Melochia radiata) Pavonia brasiliensis is a little-known and very easy-to-grow member of the hibiscus family. The woody stems on this upright shrubby perennial, which can reach 7' tall x 10' wide when grown in rich soil, are clothed with small green hastate (shaped like a spade) leaves, almost the size of the first joint on your little finger. The upper ends of each stem are adorned with delightful silver-dollar-sized flowers of pale pink with a red eye (like a nurseryman writing a catalog) through most of the summer. Pavonia brasiliensis does reseed into the clump, but we have not found it to become a garden pest.