Callirhoe involucrata (winecups) in full bloomBeautiful Groundcover
Winecups (Callirhoe involucrata), or Poppy-Mallow, is a lovely, sprawling herbaceous perennial in the Mallow Family (Malvaceae). The plant generally only grows 6 to 12 inches tall, but spreads up to 3 feet wide. When planted en mass, it forms a beautiful, loose groundcover that will creep along the ground. It will fill in blank areas as well as spaces between larger, neighboring plants. Because of its sprawling habit, it is perfect to place over stones and walls so the flowers can cascade. They also make a great border plant along walkways and garden edges.
Winecups as a groundcover among other native plantsBlooms All Summer Long
One of the best attributes about this plant is its long bloom period. The deep-pink to magenta, cup-shaped flowers are very pretty and numerous. You can see why they got their name “wine cups” easily by admiring the flowers. Winecups bloom in the garden from June to September here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Close up of Winecups in bloom. Its obvious from this angle how they got their common name. Looks like you could just take a sip!The flowers are a favorite nectar and pollen source for several solitary bees and bumblebees. Many butterflies will also visit the flowers, and hummingbirds will occasionally investigate them as well. The Gray Hairstreak and Painted Lady Butterflies utilize this species as a larval host plant.
Gray Hairstreak, nectaring on New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae). This butterfly utilizes Winecups as a larval host plant.
Great for “Tough Spots”
Winecups are tough, long-lived, deep-rooted prairie plants that have adapted to withstand harsh conditions. They prefer average to dry, well-drained, fertile, deep soils in full sun. They can withstand prolonged drought, rocky and sandy soils, intense sun exposure, and consistently-high summer temperatures. This plant is a great choice for a “hell strip” or other challenging growing areas where sun, heat, and dryness negatively impact many other plants.
That said, this plant is not ideal for all tough spots. It does not thrive in heavy clay, compacted soil, consistently moist or wet soils, or areas prone to flooding. They also need sun…they will not thrive in anything less than full sun. Full sun is a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Winecups prefer all day sun with no periods of shade.
Consider growing Winecups with other herbaceous species that thrive in similar conditions, such as:
- Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa
- Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida
- Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium
- Wild Quinine, Parthenium integrifolium
- Dwarf Blazing Star, Liatris microcephala
- Thread-leaved Tickseed, Coreopsis verticillata
- Eastern Beebalm, Monarda bradburiana
- Sideoats Grama, Bouteloua curtipendula
Examples of some companion plants to grow with Winecups. L-R: Coreopsis verticillata, Asclepias tuberosa, and Monarda bradburiana
Native Range
Native Range Map of Winecups (DARK GREEN – Native to State; LIGHT GREEN – Native to County; MINT GREEN – Adventive in State; YELLOW – Rare in State)Winecups primarily occur in the Mid-western United States and Northern Mexico. In some areas, the plant is known as the “Buffalo Rose” because it grows where the bison roam. While not native to Pennsylvania, the species performs quite well here if sited properly. They are winter hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 4a thru 8b. The biggest consideration is that they require excellent drainage so the thick tuberous roots do not rot during the damp winter.
Our Nursery Signage for Winecups
When you shop at Edge of the Woods, you will see that all of our plants have descriptive signage in front of them that tell you everything you need to know. Here is our sign for Winecups, with the basic growing information you need to know.
