Hot, hot hibiscus
At home, late-season blooms conjure visions of tropics
Even in the sweltering heat, a wellwatered hibiscus will offer blooms to brighten the garden — even if they last only one day.
Tropical selections such as South Pacific Sipper, Monsoon Mixer, Hawaiian Big Kahuna and Fiesta keep latesummer gardeners going.
‘Holy Grail,’ one in ProvenWinner’s Summerific series, is a hardy hibiscus that you simply can’t take your eyes off.
There are a total of eight colors in the series; Berry Awesome is also well named.
Typically, a tropical hibiscus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, has glossy leaves, and the perennial types, rose mallow hybrids, are flat. ‘Holy Grail’ has darkgreen foliage that has been aging to purple.
The blooms are deep red, darker in the center and reach 8 to 9-inches across. As with other hibiscus, blooms last only a day. On Day 2, however, you are left with a brightchartreuse starshaped calyx. Expect your plants to reach 4 to 5 feet tall, and as wide. It is a profuse bloomer as every flush growth gives dozens more blooms. I have three, and in all locations, they are dynamic, doing great in any soil type.
The past fewyears have brought a multitude of new, hardy hibiscus, not only hitting the market but winning awards, too. When you look at a tropical hibiscus blooming on your deck or patio, it is easy to conjure up visions of the Caribbean and the sounds of a steel band. Today’s perennial hibiscus varieties will do the same.
Think about how you can use perennial hibiscus in the tropical landscape.
Create an exotic look with large bananas growing behind one of these shrubs, or plant a yellow bush allamanda as a perfect companion. Hibiscus belong in the landscape whether combined with bananas, cannas or another tropical plant.
Try using them as the backdrop for a habitat of pollinators. Perennial hibiscus will bring in bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, and one of the best traits is they are resistant to deer. So, my companions are various salvias, Agastache or anise hyssop, coreopsis and rudbeckias.
Their requirements are much like those of other annuals. Whether you choose the perennial or tropical types, plant in well-drained, well-prepared beds and use a good layer of mulch to keep the soil evenly moist through the season.
Drying out during bloom season leads to unhappy results.
Hardy hibiscus are perennial from zones 4-9, which means most of the country can relish in their beauty. Choose a site with plenty of sunlight. Morning sun and filtered afternoon light are just about perfect. The hibiscus blooms on new growth, so it is important to keep it growing vigorously throughout the season. Keep them well-fed and watered during drought periods.
You will not need a super-bloom fertilizer, just use a slow-release, balanced fertilizer applied in regular small monthly applications. Water daily during the summer if you are growing Holy Grail or any other perennial hibiscus in containers. Nutrients will quickly leach from the soil, so apply a diluted, water-soluble fertilizer weekly or add controlledrelease granules per label recommendation.
Summerific ‘Holy Grail’ will steal the show in your summer garden. Your friends and visitors may stay a little longer gawking at the beauty of the flowers.