Hibiscus
This genus has over a 180 species of annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees. These plants are widely grown in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. Some are perfectly hardy within the British Isles. Hibiscus here in the UK are deciduous (they drop their leaves in autumn) shrubs as in Hibiscus syriacus. Hibiscus belongs to the Malvaceae family and the flowers resemble Lavatera. This woody shrub has over 30 hybrids.
These shrubs generally flower from mid-summer to early autumn. The flowers are large say up to 3-4 inches and come in shades of blue, mauve, pink and white. Some flowers are singles, doubles and anemone centered. I tend to find that in general the large single flowering shrubs tend to flower first and then closely followed by the anemone centered types. With the singles and anemone centered Hibiscus they tend to have five large outer petals. It is also notable that at the base of the petals is a red blotch of colour that in some varieties is very eye catching Lastly the double flowering ones with smaller flowers than the single types.
Grow Hibiscus syriacus in free draining soil where water isn’t round the roots in winter. Plant them in your gardens preferably in a full sun area. Feed with a good fertilizer once the growth starts in late spring (they come into leaf very late for deciduous shrubs, late April or even May).
These shrubs can be large and rangy as they get older. However, on a visit to my uncles in Norfolk a number of years ago I learnt that these shrubs can be pruned even coppiced. My uncle in late spring cuts these shrubs down to a foot high. Where they then produce stems from 3 – 5 feet depending on variety with lots of flowers all up the stems. I have after seeing this tried myself and I also notice that you don’t have to cut as hard and the results are the same. This then allows us to be able to grow more in our gardens taking up less space than one large shrub. On the whole Hibiscus syriacus needs no attention.
Here’s some varieties to consider for your garden,
Of the singles, Bluebird, an old variety but the blue is very intense and none of the other hybrids that I have seen even come close to the intensity of blue that Bluebird has. H. Marina blue has a good colour, with large red blotches in the center of flower and H. Oiseau Bleu is a good one too.
Another old variety H. Woodbridge, lovely large pink flowers, one of the new varieties H. Aphrodite has nice large flowers a bit darker in pink and somewhat more compact.
The white Hibiscus are great the classic or the oldest type is Hibiscus Red heart, truly magnificent in flower. H. Flower tower a pure white form equally stunning with it crystal white flowers.
Now there are a group of Hibiscus classed as double flowers but I like to look at them as anemone centered. There are three A loverly soft blue one called Hibiscus Blue chiffon and then a pink which is pink Chiffon and then there is Hibiscus white chiffon. Another white anemone type which is quite stunning is Hibiscus Starburst. All are modern hybrids and are reasonable compact for the smaller gardens.
Double flowering hibiscus look like little roses. A strong coloured plumy pink one called Hibiscus Duc de Brabant and a beautiful pure white called Hibiscus Admiral Dewey along with Hibiscus Lady Stanley also a white double. There are mauve and pink doubles too.
Some Hibiscus have variegated cream and green leaves. As a mature shrub these can look quite impressive.
Hibiscus purpureus variegatus has broadly variegated foliage with deep crimson button double flowers. Then there is Hibiscus Meehanii with large mauve single flowers. There are other available but not always in the garden centers.
Below is a gallery of pictures relating to August
