This hibiscus, (Hibiscus laevis) with many common names and taxonomic variations beyond my botanical knowledge, is one of the most beautiful wildflowers in South Georgia. This one was photographed near New Prospect Baptist Church. A good description can be found here.
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 
Brian,
Using your high resolution picture of Hibiscus militaris, the structure of the Stigma and Style in the flower you photographed, confirms your identification of the species.
The unidentified Hibiscus I have is definitely not Hibiscus militaris but appears to be a Hibiscus moscheutos hybrid with some Hibiscus militaris ancestry.
Again, thank you for all your exceptional photographs.
Michael Ronayne
Nutley, NJ
Brian,
A search in Google Earth and Google Maps found a Taylor Road near Fitzgerald GA. As there are multiple Taylor Roads in GA, this is the most unambiguous search string for the location:
Google Maps: “Taylor Road, Fitzgerald, GA 31750”
Taylor Road is a 1.35 mile long dirt road which runs east to west. The midpoint of the road is at GPS(31.694951°, -83.373347°). This locations is 7.25 miles west by south-west from the city of Fitzgerald, GA. There is a Google Street View of the western end of Taylor Road from Jeff Davis Park Road. Are the Hibiscus found on the north or south side of Taylor Road and at what locations along the road?
Today Hibiscus militaris is officially identified as Hibiscus laevis but both names remain in general use and you have to be vigilant for either usage when conducting research. Do you have any photographs of the leaves of this Hibiscus? This may sound like a rhetorical question but exactly what made you decide that these specimens were members of the species Hibiscus militaris?
The leaves of Hibiscus militaris are hairless with a smooth or shinny appearance. Leaves of Hibiscus militaris have been described in one, three and five pointed lobe configurations with serrate or crenate edges. The leaves with three lobes resemble a medieval halberd because the middle lobe is much larger than the two side lobes. My one year old plants are only exhibiting the one lobe configuration and I will need to wait until next year to see if additional lobes develop; the leaves are definitely smooth and shinny.
The USDA website shows drawings of Hibiscus militaris leaves with one and three pointed lobes but no five pointed lobe configurations.
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HILA2&photoID=hila2_005_avd.tif
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HILA2&photoID=himi2_001_avd.tif
The Missouri Plants website has pictures of the classic three lobe halberd leaf formation:
http://www.missouriplants.com/Pinkalt/Hibiscus_militaris_page.html
It is from the three lobe halberd leaf formation that the Hibiscus derives its name.
The deep pink flower color of the Hibiscus militaris you photographed is very unusual for the species and I would be grateful if you could post or Email me pictures of the leaves. There is a tremendous degree of genetic variability in native North American Hibiscus and it would come as no surprise to me if the Hibiscus you photographed were at one end of that genetic range.
Do you know if a qualified botanist has surveyed this population of Hibiscus militaris?
Thank you,
Michael Ronayne
Nutley, NJ
Brian,
This is an unusual color form of Hibiscus militaris but I believe it because I have a number exactly like it, which are also from Georgia. This is one of those flowers which don’t photograph well and the colors look much better in real life. Colors such a rhodamine-pink or lipstick-pink would not do this flower justice. When I photographed this flower, the veins are more pronounced and the hot pink doesn’t come through.
Can you describe the location where you found this plant and were all the Hibiscus militaris like this one? I received my original seeds by accident from Georgia and now I am attempting to document what I have. The color of the flowers was so beautiful that at first I though they were the result of a selective breeding effort but after additional inspection I believe that this is one of the color forms of this species because all of the plants are breeding true.
I really wish I could find some way to more accurately photograph this flower with my digital camera.
Michael Ronayne
Nutley, NJ
I apologize for taking so long to get in touch with you Michael. This was found on Taylor Road in Irwin County, Georgia, in the central part of South Georgia. It’s also part of the Coastal Plain and Wiregrass Region. Most specimens of this variety display this color in the immediate area…thanks for your interest, and let me know if I can be of more help with a location.