Hibiscus: A Confederate Rose In A Yankee Garden, 0 by Michael_Ronayne

Michael_Ronayne wrote:

marie_kap wrote:Thanks Mike it is nice to know that we can grow these this far north. I saw one when I was in NC and fell in love, but knew I had not chance of getting one to live. Now I know I could if I wanted to. I am guessing that it does take full sun?

Marie,
Attached are two photographs which I took on 2012-10-21 of buds which are showing color and just about to open. I expect the first flowers in the next few days weather permitting. This year, my Hibiscus mutabilis Alma’s Star is covered with hundreds of buds which are all in the process of opening. It should be some show in a week or two.

In comparison the Hibiscus mutabilis Double has a few small buds which I don’t believe will bloom this year. Actually this past spring, I thought I had lost this Hibiscus only to have it make a surprise late appearance but it is living on the edge. As the size of the root ball increases it may do better but it is not looking promising.

While we both live in a New Jersey Zone 6b environment, I am still inside the New York City Heat Island Effect and can cheat Old Man Winter sometimes, but in the end the Old Man wins. You are 90 miles south of my location so that should count for something. Please remember that this Hibiscus is a sterile stem mutation of Hibiscus mutabilis, which I strongly suspect is a polyploidy with an unknown chromosome count.

It is incredibly easy to root stem cuttings of Hibiscus mutabilis. Because of the bug infestations problems the first winter indoors I had to clone the Alma’s Star several times to keep it alive. If you try to grow Alma’s Star in your location, I would protect it for the first winter but it should be OK after that. Alma’s Star likes a lot of sun and needs a lot of room to grow. The size of the Hibiscus this year was totaling unexpected and may need several pruning during the summer to keep it under control. But if you want to astound your neighbors with a flowing tree in November this is the Hibiscus for you. If it didn't die back to the ground every winter, Hibiscus mutabilis Alma’s Star would become a tree.

Mike

This message was edited Oct 21, 2012 11:10 PM