Best Hibiscus Cultivars

There seems to be a lot of hibiscus expertise on this forum and I am hoping someone can help. We are planning to plant a grouping of 3 identical hibiscus in a condiminium landscape and would like to know if there are any tried and true (better than all the rest) cultivars that we can use. Most hibiscus at the nurseries seem to be of a no-name variety sorted by color. I have heard that red hibiscus tend to do better. Don't know if thats true. We are in zone 10 near the Gulf of Mexico. It doesn't freeze here with an occasional dip into the fourties in winter. The site is in full sun and salt air could be an issue. Can anyone out there help?

It depends on if you're referring to the standard garden variety hibiscus (solid colors/many smaller sized blooms) or the hybrid hibiscus (larger sized blooms but fewer of them/some solid colors but many are multicolored). The wild color combinations you see in photos on here are "hybrids".

Sorry I can't offer much advise on the garden varieties. They are generally lower maintenance hibiscus and are more preferred by most Floridians. They are also much less expensive and easier to find/buy compared to the hybrids. The red colored garden varieties are quite popular so they must be pretty good performers.

If you're considering a hybrid and just want one recommendation I would recommend Hibiscus "High Voltage". It's always a large sized bloom with good form and a relatively reliable bloomer for a hybrid. It's bright, draws a lot of attention, and always gets a few "wows" when people see it in person. I took this picture of my "High Voltage" blooming last week...in case you're not familiar with it.

Jon

That is soooooo pretty Jon. Everyone that has it says its a good bloomer & I've got it on my wish list. So much prettier than the garden varieties you can find every where.

Judy

High Voltage is the very first hybrid hibiscus I bought back in 2007 and still one of my favorites. It's in the forefront of the flower bed, and the first plant you see when you drive by on the main street. LOL I put it there for a reason!

Thanks for your input Jon. It is helpful.

Belle de Jour and Cinnamon Girl (both from HVH) are also constantly in bloom here.

Here's a picture of Belle de Jour.

Here's Cinnamon Girl. It seems that each year has a different "most blooms" for me, but these two are always, every year, right at the top.

Ahhh, very very nice.