Kankakee Mallow is found nowhere else in the world except Langham Island in the Kankakee River, Illinois — making it one of the rarest U.S. plants.
It is listed as an Illinois state-endangered plant, with ongoing conservation and restoration efforts to protect its limited population.
Its seeds have extremely hard coats that require scarification by fire (or heat) to break dormancy and germinate successfully.
Nearly disappeared due to invasive brush and lack of natural fires on Langham Island, but conservation groups restored it through prescribed burns and habitat management.
Known as the “hidden flower of Illinois”, Kankakee Mallow is a symbol of rare beauty and ecological resilience, celebrated by botanists and conservationists alike.
Kankakee Mallow is found nowhere else in the world except Langham Island in the Kankakee River, Illinois — making it one of the rarest U.S. plants.
It is listed as an Illinois state-endangered plant, with ongoing conservation and restoration efforts to protect its limited population.
Its seeds have extremely hard coats that require scarification by fire (or heat) to break dormancy and germinate successfully.
Nearly disappeared due to invasive brush and lack of natural fires on Langham Island, but conservation groups restored it through prescribed burns and habitat management.
Known as the “hidden flower of Illinois”, Kankakee Mallow is a symbol of rare beauty and ecological resilience, celebrated by botanists and conservationists alike.
Bloom: summer
Habitats: abandoned fields; open rocky woodlands; rocky riverbanks; woodland edges
Lifespan: perennial
Moisture: moist to mesic
Plant type (height): forb (2.5 to 6 feet)
Requirements: full sun to partial sun
Soil: some loam or rocky material
