Pavonia is a popular garden accent plant throughout Texas, even though it originates on dry, rocky woods or banks of South, Central, or West Texas. Its popularity is undoubtedly due to its long bloom period and versatility, accepting full sun to half-day shade, a variety of soils, and very dry to regularly irrigated conditions. This small, perennial shrub is woody at the base, herbaceous above, bearing light green, velvety, heart-shaped leaves and red miniature hibiscus-like flowers that open in the morning and close up by early afternoon in our highest heat.
It's naturally loose, and the open-branching form may be kept more compact by frequent pruning, promoting new growth and more flowers. Pavonia is reputed to be short-lived, 3 to 6 years, but self-sows readily or may be easily propagated by saved seed or softwood cuttings.
