A southern star
The Texas star hibiscus may be named for the Lone Star State, but this scarlet-flowered beauty is actually native to swamps and marshes of the Southeast. An easy-care perennial with a tropical look, Hibiscus coccineus is a tall, erect plant (6 to 8 feet) with multiple stems and deeply divided leaves. The large, elegant flowers are five-petaled and 6 inches across. H. coccineus performs best in full sun and in average to wet (even submerged) garden soils from summer to fall. It is hardy throughout North Carolina. Be warned that your neighbors may look askance at the leaves, which to the untrained eye resemble those of Cannabis sativa. To find local sources of plants or seed, contact the North Carolina Botanical Garden at (919) 962-0522, or peruse the list of native plant vendors at http://ncbg.unc.edu/pages/48.