Last year we bought a few plants from Parks on clearance, including a hibiscus in a glorious shade of red. We did not have the garden even planned out, much less dug or ready to plant, so Dave found a pretty spot for this plant, slightly protected by tall spruce trees near the pool. It gets summer sunshine much of the day and the ground is covered in good sized granite rocks.
It bloomed a little in 2012 and we both wondered how well it would do. Was the spot too sunny? Too shady? Would the rocks be too alkaline? Too acidic?
In the fall hibiscus die to the ground here in Michigan and break dormancy late, after most of the other perennials. Here it is in mid May.
Hibiscus May 2013
I left the old branches as-is last fall so I would not forget where the hibiscus was. They look a little ghostly in that picture, don’t they?
Now it’s July and the flowers are opening every day. They only last a day or two, but oh my, what flowers we have! They are easily 8 inches across, pure dark red, lovely.
Here you can see it in context with the trees and the slight hill. The retaining wall is about a foot high at the end and is over 3 feet high a little ways past the hibiscus due to the slope of the back yard.
Red Hibiscus July 27, 2013 Showing the Slope and Trees
Here’s the same view.
Red Hibiscus July 27, 2013
And the other side. I walked along the retaining wall and crouched over to get this picture.
Red Hibiscus July 27, 2013
Hibiscus plants get pretty tall, 4 to 5 feet even here in Michigan at the far north end of their range. I stood on the ground below the retaining wall and got these next pictures right at eye level.
Red Hibiscus July 27, 2013 Showing Flower Sepals
I like how the star shaped sepals that are left behind when the petals drop. We have a nice little pile of dark red petals at the base of the shrub and twinkling light green stars and dark red flowers in the hibiscus now. So pretty.
Red Hibiscus Flowers July 27, 2013 Close Up
Have you grown hibiscus? They come in shades of pink, red, white and even light purple. If you have a spot that gets sunshine but with a little protection they should do well for you too!
Kim Miller says
I had one of these but someone kept calling the police and said I was growing pot, the police actually had to look up the flower to verify what I was telling them. I went out one day after the police had been over and someone cut my plant near the bottom and it died. I have not been able to find the exact same flower since, that one was given to me by an old family friend who died. I was hoping you would know the name of this particular one and where I might be able to order one.
Thank You
K Miller