In My Garden Blog
Lower South
May 16, 2002
By
Skip Richter,
Austin, TX
Perennial hibiscus varieties like 'Flare' provide red hot summer color for the landscape.
Perennial Hibiscus Heat Up in Summer with Blazing Color
Few plants can match hibiscus for summer beauty. There is something about hibiscus blooms that are both dazzling and enchanting. They are a focal point in any tropical paradise whether in the Bahamas or outside your back door. In the South we can choose from the tropical Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) with its shiny leaves and dazzling blooms, the perennial giant rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) with its dinner plate-sized blooms, and our perennial southern native Hibiscus coccineus (a.k.a. scarlet hibiscus and scarlet mallow). I love the perennial types because they offer huge blooms and are hardy in the lower South, dying back in winter and returning the following spring.
Giant Rose Mallow
The giant rose mallow has the largest flowers of any hardy perennial. It is a descendant of the native hibiscus found throughout the Gulf South states. These spectacular plants are easy to grow. Rich, moist soil with good drainage and a full sun exposure bring the most vigorous growth but mallows are very accommodating and will tolerate light shade and less desirable soils.
Using Blooms as Decorations
I like to use their blooms as a table decoration. Sometimes I'll float one in a large round fishbowl container or open bowl. However, they need not be placed in water but can even be set directly on a table to decorate it for an afternoon or evening party.
Each flower lasts a day before withering. If you want flowers for the evening, blossoms should be cut as soon as they are fully open in the morning and placed in the refrigerator until just before using. Following the refrigeration period, flowers should remain open for four hours or more.
Hibiscus in Containers
Hibiscus adapt well to growing containers -- a good idea in areas with soil problems such as root knot nematode and cotton root rot. Containers also offer more versatility as you can move them to various locations to achieve the desired effect. Although individual flowers last only a day, each plant may flaunt a number of giant flowers at once. Few garden plants provide so much enjoyment for so little care.
Varieties
The 'Disco' series and 'Southern Belle' are well known varieties. However some new varieties are now available that offer even larger blooms and more intense red colors. 'Moy (after its creator, Ying Doon Moy) Grande' has 12-inch, bright red blooms. 'Flare' was named because of its large glowing blooms that shine like a burning flare. 'Lord Baltimore' sports large fuchsia-red, saucerlike flowers. The large, cup-shaped flowers of 'Red River' are wine-red with a white star in the throat and glowing yellow pollen accents. Finally, our great native Hibiscus coccineus has strappy red blooms and deeply cut foliage.
With so many wonderful new varieties to choose from, don't garden another year without a perennial hibiscus in your landscape.
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