My neighbor gathered seeds, labeled them red hibiscus. This summer she shared some and we planted them. Growing like weeds. The same plant will have a single lobed leaf, a 3 lobed leaf and predominately 5 lobed leaves. We are doubting that they are hibiscus. Can anyone help please?
Could be Red Texas Star?
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1872/
Bezzie, They look like my Texas Star native hibiscus seedlings so I agree with Froggie'sgirl.
I think the first one is different and it is Halberd-leaved hibiscus, Hibiscus leavis
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HILA2
The next two look like Texas Star Hibiscus, Hibiscus coccineus
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HICO2
I didn't even notice that the first one is different. ADD strikes again. I can be looking right at something and not even notice it. So, bezzie, I do not have the first photo, just the other two.
steadycam--Here is photo #1
I believe that all the seeds came from one plant. Guess we will see if and when they bloom.
Do any of you grow these? I read some comments that said they need a lot of water. Other comments said that the police had taken samples from their plants because they thought they were marijuana. Hope that doesn't happen here. They are planted near the street!!!! LOL My neighbor mentioned yesterday that they look like marijuana.
This message was edited Jul 6, 2014 6:07 AM
Bezzie, what I meant when I said I don't have the first photo is that I don't have that plant but I do have the plant in the other two photos. I don't think they look enough like marijuana to fool most people so don't worry. I have not noticed that they are any more water hungry than my other plants but Josephine and Newtonsthirdlaw have longer experience with them than I do. Maybe they will comment on that.
Yes, they like water, as a matter of fact they naturally grow in the swamps but they can make it with less.
If you keep them in large pots with a saucer you can give them all the water they want without having to drown everything else. I don't have the red Texas Star right now, but I have the white in a large pot.
I still think the first picture is a different plant.
Only looks like marijuana to people who have never seen hemp plants. First plant does need to grow some so we can see if it does like a goosefoot ivy and the leaves just keep adding , but the leaf right now looks a lot wider than the other 2 pics...
I agree with Jo. I don't have a plant that looks like #1 with the Halberd- shaped leaves.
Update---As it has grown taller, the leaves on plant #1 are multilobed like the others. Now we know I guess that they are all the same plant.
Well, they sure looked different to start with, I guess sometimes they can fool you.
I have to bow down to the knowledge of Dave's Garden members!! You were all exactly right about these plants. As #1 grew it never got more than 3 lobes. The other three definitely have 5 lobes.
#1 bloomed first and it is exactly like the link that Frostweed posted----bloomed white with a dark pink center. #2 bloomed today and it is spectacular. Has waxy petals like some lilies. Pictured at the bottom of this post. Never again will I doubt the expertise of DG people. Thanks.
Thank you for the report Beverly, those Texas Star hibiscus sure are beautiful.
I will tack on a picture of a TX Star leaves and buds, just for those that might have one. I was at a large sale once that had plants and crafts. The police officer at the door said. Mam, you will need to leave that pot plant with me. He was kidding of course, but for the untrained eye it would look that way until it bloomed.
