Confederate Rose Hibiscus

Does anyone know if Double Pink Confederate Rose Hibiscus will survive in the ground over Winter in upstate South Carolina?? I have 2 plants I would like to NOT lose over winter if at all possible. Grown from seed and they have yet to even flower once. One is about 2-3' and the other is smaller. Thanks!! Any tips will be greatly appreciated!! I also have another Hibiscus grown from seed from Florida called Cranberry Hibiscus--not in the plant files--bet I have to pot this one up and bring it inside with the tropicals I got form the Hibsicus Co-op??!! Thanks!!

Bonnie

Hi ya Bonnie,

Yep, it is too in the plant files. Looky here: http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/2112/index.html

It just doesn't have that name (cranberry) but I believe this is the one you are referring to. The good news is, it looks like it might do well in your zone.

I received some of these seedlings from Badseed and they have absolutely taken off since I put them in the ground. They came to me as 6" seedlings and now, 5-6 weeks later they are 1&1/2 feet tall.

As for the Confederate Rose, I know this isn't the exact one, but does it resemble? http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/68041/index.html

Maybe someone else knows a lot more than I do. Oh wait....everyone knows a lot more than I do......

Molly
:^)))

Okay, I found this. A very interesting article on the Confederate Rose Hibiscus: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/southerngarden/hibiscus.html

You seem to be in a very middle of the road zone Bonnie. Seems like lots of plants do very well up by you all the way down to me.

Molly

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/714/index.html This is the one--I read a few comments and I see it is SUPPOSED to die to the ground and come back. I had one last year that was in the ground and certainly died back but did not return??!!! MAybe something ate it over winter?? Ok--I will leave at least the larger one in the ground for winter and see what happens!! Bonnie

You can also take cuttings and root them pretty easily. That way you can leave them in the ground and will extras next year. I have them in the ground in my zone and do not dig them up. Mine get about 8-10 feet tall. I got my cuttings from a close friends brother that lives near Birmingham, Ala. Last year they bloomed during the Japanese Beetle season, but it looks like they will bloom later this year...YEA!!!

Bonnie....my aunt has one here in Pickens that she mulches and it comes back. I planted 2 last summer...mulched them...and they did NOT come back. I put cuttings in a bucket with a little water and left them in a space under the house during the winter and they rooted. I would advise you take some cuttings to be sure this first year.

Thanks for the advice and tips JanetS and Charlotteda!! Will take cuttings and mulch heavily the bushes and see what happens!! Have more seed if I need it but doesn't seem they flower from seed the first year--or at least I have yet to grow one from seed that has flowered so maybe next year if it comes back. It probably will--the soil here is very well draining!! Bonnie