I have been searching for verifiable sources of Meehans’ Mallow Marvels which were first introduced to the hobby in 1907 by Meehan's Nurseries, Germantown, Philadelphia, PA. To facilitate the identification of this Hibiscus cultivar I am including two reports from trade magazines of that period describing the Meehans’ Mallow Marvels. The second article contains detailed pictures of the flowers and leaves which should be useful for identification. If anyone has information about Meehans’ Mallow Marvels post it here or send me a DM.
Gardeners' Chronicle, Horticultural Trade Journal
1907, Page 254
http://books.google.com/books?id=GN0KAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA254&dq=Meehans+Mallow+Marvels
Meehans’ Mallow Marvels.—In Meehan's nurseries, Germantown, Philadelphia, experiments have been going on for some years on the production of this Hibiscus in various colours other than its natural one, which is a rose colour, the chief object being to obtain a hardy crimson flowered one by hybridizing it with the crimson one from a tropical clime. This idea of thus improving this flower was first suggested by the late Thomas Meehan, and his suggestion interested one of his employees, Ernest Hemming, and to him is due the credit for obtaining the beautiful hybrids which have resulted from the crossing. It has been a task of several years to reach the results at the present day. Year after year, when the beds of plants are in flower, they attract great attention. There are all colours from pink to crimson; but all the time but a very few of the best were saved, with which to continue further crossing. At the present time four sorts have been selected as eminently worthy of dissemination; they have been named Crimson Marvel, White Marvel, Red Marvel and Pink Marvel. Although the Hibiscus moscheutos is one of the parents, the sorts selected do not have the same style of growth. There is not a rank, coarse, open growth, but rather a taller, more branching habit, of much more pleasing appearance than that of H. moscheutos; and although a height of from 6 to 9 feet is made in good soil, the growth is always well able to take care of itself in storms. The extreme hardiness of these Mallows cannot be too clearly emphasized. They are absolutely hardy wherever H. moscheutos is hardy, and this is equivalent to saying practically all over the Northern States. These Mallows, like their parents, are tenacious of life. In spring, after severe winters, some of the seedlings have been thrown to the top of the ground by frost, yet have not failed to grow when reset; and in this respect they surprise those not aware that the Hibiscuses are known to transplant well. Hibiscus plants start into growth very late always, often not before the close of April. The best situation for Hibiscus is an open sunny one, where the ground is deep and moist. Planted in such a place there will be a display of their large handsome flowers—some of them 7 to 8 inches in diameter—through August and September.
Meehan's Garden Bulletin, Volumes 2-5
August 1911, Pages 8 to 10
http://books.google.com/books?id=CtbRAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PR25&dq=Meehans+Mallow+Marvels
The Most Gorgeous of Hardy Flowering Plants —Medians' Mallow Marvels
Stanley V. Wilcox.
MENTION is made of Hibiscus coccineus, the American Rose Mallow, in Volume II of "Native Flowers and Ferns," where Prof. Thomas Meehan says: "The sister species of our plant, the Hibiscus Rosasinensis of our gardens has yielded many varieties, yellow, orange, crimson and other hues, besides double, as well as single, flowers, and, if similar attention were shown to Hibiscus coccineus, the florist would no doubt be rewarded with similar results."
In 1903, twenty-four years later, the famous botanist's conception and prophecy was in a measure fulfilled by the successful scientific cross, resulting in the parent plant of Meehans' Mallow Marvels. The dream flower of the noted author became a reality and is now linked with his name.
Hibiscus coccineus has been called "the most gorgeous of all plants indigenous to the United States." He aims high, therefore, who would set about improving it.
We cannot divine, of course, just the flower that Professor Meehan pictured when he wrote of an improved Hibiscus coccineus. In the conservative reasoning of a trained horticulturist, fully aware of the uncertainties of so great an undertaking, it is hardly likely that he could have imagined an improvement so miraculously great.
Hibiscus coccineus reserves its gorgeous show for the deep marshes of the most southern States. The North must be contented with the coarse-foliage, small pink and white flowers of the common Jersey Swamp Mallow, the Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis being a pampered greenhouse and conservatory plant.
The new creation not only gives the handsome crimson Mallows to northern gardens, but gives them a handsomer flower in every way, much larger and ranging in color from the transplendent scarlets and crimsons to the soft crystalline pink and white.
Usually a new flower, especially one secured after many years of crass-breeding, is heralded by wondrous descriptions. The imagination of the producer, left to run rampant through the years of tedious work and his close study and intimate knowledge and long familiarity with his subject, pictures beauties which are lost to the average flower lover. Not infrequently, therefore, are we doomed to bitter disappointment.
To guard against just such an error, Meehans' Mallow Marvels were withheld from the public from 1903 to 1907, or until it was certain that even the most imaginative creator fell far short of a description that would set forth the regal beauty of the glowing cardinals, the absolute clearness of the beautiful pink, the spotless purity of the white.
The first description of the plants, published in the spring of 1907, gave the size of the flowers from seven to- eight inches in diameter. One of the first purchasers, writing from Ohio in the following spring, described results which he considered phenomenal. From one and two year-old roots he had flowers eight, nine and ten inches in diameter, and borne in profusion. It would appear from this that the first claims were modest indeed.
Many of the first purchasers of the Mallow Marvels were unacquainted with the Mallow family and could not, therefore, fully appreciate the absolute perfection of the new plant. That many, however, were fully appreciative is evidenced by such letters as these received from all parts of the country. From Wisconsin, "The Mallows bloomed beautifully, bearing over one hundred blossoms, beautiful large red ones." From New York, "I am so delighted with the Mallow Marvels that I cannot refrain from recommending them to others." From Windsor, Ontario, "The Mallow Marvels planted last fall are the admiration of every one that sees them." From Kansas City, Mo., "It is an unexcelled plant for Kansas City gardens; you must make every one see it."
Conclusive evidence that the Mallow Marvels have really arrived is the notice given them by the daily press. It is seldom that a new flower appeals to such masses that it is worthy of press notice all over the country. "Meehans' Mallow Marvels" have received the tribute of papers from Georgia to Canada, from Massachusetts to Florida. Like the producers, the press has failed in every description to do justice to this most wonderful perennial creation of the century.
As the work of improvement is going steadily on, it is hoped that within a few years Professor Meehan's prophecy will be completely fulfilled by the production of both a single and double Mallow Marvels, and, more wonderful still, of a handsome, hardy yellow type.
Attached is a photograph with a caption which reads “These varied types of leaves show the results secured in foliage in Meehans' Mallow Marvels.” Note that both the Hibiscus moscheutos and Hibiscus coccineus leaf forms are present.
I have two bits of information which may be of interest to the DM community. Ernest Hemming continued to work on a Hardy Hibiscus double and a product of that effort still exists today; and, yes I do know where that one is. I have two reliable reports, from the early Twentieth Century of a yellow Hibiscus growing along the New Jersey shore. The hardy yellows which are currently available, are a disappointment once they open. I will be on the lookout for any work on yellows by Ernest Hemming.
Why is there so much interest in the Hibiscus moscheutos populations of New Jersey? With an excellent railroad network at the end of the Nineteenth and beginning of the Twentieth Century, the New Jersey shore was a major summer vacation destination for the affluent from Philadelphia and New York Cities. It was no accident that many Hibiscus moscheutos specimens were collected along railroad right-of-ways at the height of the summer flowering season.
Mike
