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| Disco Belle Rosy Red from Sakata National Garden Bureau |
Have you tried adding some pizzazz to your yard/garden with a hibiscus plant? Don’t confuse these hardy plants with their tropical cousins – these are capable of surviving to -30ºF (-34ºC).
Their most amazing feature are the flowers – some get 10-12 inches in diameter. The flowers are trumpet shaped and have at least 5 petals. The plants will explode with beautiful pinwheel-like flowers in late summer.
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| Head Over Heels Passion from Star Roses and Plants National Garden Bureau |
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| White Chiffon Color Choice from Spring Meadow National Garden Bureau They come in many colors from bright red to white, blue or purple, and yellow with different patterns and streaking through the petals. The leaves can also vary in color from green, bronze to near black. |
Plant size can range from 2-10 feet tall and 5-6 feet wide – they grow quickly once established so be sure to allow room when you plant one.
Even though they are a perennial, they will die down to the ground in most zones and are late to break dormancy in Spring. They need full sun and perform best with a consistent water source, which might make them perfect for areas in the yard/garden that periodically flood, or as a thriller attraction for your rain garden
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| Holy Grail from Walters Garden National Garden Bureau |
"Hibiscus is both the common and botanical name for a few different popular classes of the plant. Most think of Tropical Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) when they hear the word, while horticulturists may note the shrub Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) also falls in this category. However, neither of these plants fall into what is commonly considered “Hardy Hibiscus.”
Here is a quick overview of how they differ:
• Hardy Hibiscus
"First, our subject and superstar: Hardy Hibiscus. This set of plants primarily includes the species native to North America (such as Hibiscus moscheutos and Hibiscus laevis), and hybrids of those species. These plants are true perennials, tend to have the largest flowers, and die back to the ground each year."
• Shrub Hibiscus
"Shrub Hibiscus, also called Rose of Sharon, most frequently refers to the species Hibiscus syriacus which is native to southern and central Asia. Rose of Sharon has a woody habit and bloom on the same structure each year. These tend to be the largest in size with some varieties getting 15′ tall."
• Tropical Hibiscus
"Tropical Hibiscus, or Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, are from southeast Asia and are technically a shrub-like their cousins, Hibiscus syriacus, though significantly less hardy. These varieties tend to be used in the landscape in southern parts of the US or as patio or house plants since they are not frost tolerant.”
For more information on this delightful perennial: NGB – Year of the Hibiscus