A great big welcome from the rest of the country to a new Quebec member who has a question about hibiscus. I'm sure it will be posted soon.
welcome stimmins
Welcome again Stimmins! I think Lynn is hinting that we would love to see you drop by more often. ;)
Hello stimmines!
Welcome, stimmins!
hi all...thanks for the welcomes! I've been away for a few weeks visiting my daughter in Halifax, so didn't quite get around to posting my hibiscus question!!! But I'm back, so here tis: I have three new 'hardy hibiscus' that were planted this July and are only about a foot and a half tall now. I got a few blooms from two of the plants, nothing from the third, but guess that's normal for having just planted them this summer? Anyway, reading material suggests I should cut them back to about a foot and protect them with lots of mulch....but as they're only about a foot to begin with...should I cut them back at all? And should I be covering them with those styrofoam covers I've seen people using.....or what?
Any advice would be welcome! Thanks, Sharron
Hi Sharron. So nice to meet you. I don't own a Hibiscus (wish I did) but I looked it up on Ed Hume's Garden Questions and here is what he had to say:
HALF-HARDY SHRUBS & VINES: This group would include: Bougainvillea, Euryops (Yellow daisies), Hibiscus, Gardenias, Mandevilla, Citrus, etc. In the Pacific Northwest and other areas where the temperatures dip below freezing, these plants should be treated as indoor houseplants over-winter.
If there are other alternatives, I am sure our other "very knowledgable" Canadian members will respond. Good luck with it.
Donna
Hi, and welcome, stimmins..............Elaine
Hi Sharron,
I'm so glad you posted this question - I didn't know there was such a thing as a hardy hibiscus. Apparently it can go as high as Zone 3! Here are a couple of links that you might find useful - one to an external hibiscus site that talks about winter protection, and then some general hardy hibiscus comments on DG's Plants Database. You could also try posting a question on the General Discussion forum - ? Or Perennials, or Cool Climates - or all 3. Hope this helps! The photos I've seen so far look beautiful.
Shannon
http://www.bachmans.com/tipsheets/Perennials/HardyHibiscus.cfm
http://davesgarden.com/pdb/go/982///
Thanks for the interesting links, Shannon. Now I am educated in the Hardy Hibiscus too. Of course, now I want one, and of course, I don't have room for one more perennial. Unless I dig up that boxwood shrub and move that to....hmmm
That's always the risk, isn't it....the more you learn about, the more you want, but no space and/or money. I'm thinking of just moving our house and plunking it down in the middle of the arboretum in Ottawa. Lots of room there!