Hardy Hibiscus Grower?

where can I buy seeds for the 10 inch plus flowers? I bought some seeds from Chilterns last year , nothing came up . Maybe they were xrayed or something in the mail .
The seeds were cheap , but shipping/ handling was more than 2X the seeds .

I would also LOVE to try some disco belle's if anyone has any they would be willing to share also. Is Turn Of The Century part of the Disco Belle collection?

Kim, I still have some seed for the white/pink pinwheel if anyone would like.
Photo near the top of this thread.
The flowers this year were up to 8 inches across.
Just DM me with your address.
Andy P

tonyjr, I got 10/15 grow from Chilterns hybrid 'Galaxy'. I put them in a greenhouse fairly late (April I think) as we had a cold spring, just covered the clear plastic tomato tub with a plastic bag loosely. They are not very big now, but are green stemmed, no leaves, and in my cold greenhouse. We have had frost and cold weather since mid November, to -4c, daytime very cold 1C to 4C much of the time. They are hardy to -20C (-4F) when mature.

If you try again and perhaps buy some other seed, they do have a really good range, it will justify the shippping. I haven't heard of x-rays harming them, but could do, perhaps email Chilterns and ask?

Janet

Thanks Kathy, you have mail.

THANKS ANDY!! Got the seeds.. leaving you feedback!! :)

The folks on DG are the best and renew my spirit and I just love Gardeners!!

Okay, I would like to share seeds from my Disco Belle after bloom too... However, as I previously said, I did have to cut mine down since it was getting eaten alive and was being shredded. I momentarily lost my mind and sprayed bad chemicals on it and then found a dead butterfly and never again, so I rapidly chopped it before another butterfly found the leaves. However, even through it had finished bloom, I still did not see any seed formation where the flowers were.. only a spent shell that held the bloom. Is this where the seeds would have formed if it had the time to form? Thanks.

Also, FYI, when I first purchased the Disco Belle at Home Depot it was the beginning of summer and they were in full bloom and magnificent. A friend warned me that hers had "died" almost immediately, but she had just kept it around and sure enough it sprouted and came back for her the next season. I purchased two of them and they "died" immediately as well. Not only did it come back for me this past year, it was over 4 feet tall and was loaded with blooms. I will get pictures this year. I believe that the nursery pumps them up for sale and then they crash and burn, but they will return if this happens to you. Also, i noticed that Home Depot had them again in the white with dark center, but listed them as "annual' when it was clearly a hardy type and the tag said otherwise.. but they do returns on plants and that must have been their reasoning! :)

It is warmer then it shold be around here and my mind is being tricked into wanting to plant!!

Susan

Susan, I will share my experience with my Lady Baltimore last year.

Everything in the garden had begun to show life and there were 2 places that absolutely NOTHING was coming up. This is where my 2 Ladies were. I began to think they were dead when everything around them was growing so wonderfully. It takes FOREVER for them to break dormancy in the spring. Just when I was about to give up and thought they didn't make it I saw a little growth coming from the ground. Needless to say not only did those hibiscus catch up to all the growth around them, they passed by leaps and bounds. So, I have learned DO NOT DIG THEM UP AND THINK THEY ARE DEAD, they are just VERY VERY LATE to wake up.

As far as seeds go, I went out every morning and took the little anthers with the pollen from one flower and dabbed another flower with them. then just let the dabbed flower wither and die. When the flower falls off a little "crown" will be left. If the pollinating was successful that crown will swell and swell. In the fall it will be very big and when it turns brown it will be full of seeds. I have found though that the best time to try to make a successful "bee" is in the morning. I played bee all summer and it was actually alot of fun. I would take pictures first and then pollinate.

I hope this has been useful in some way and wish you the very best of luck.

Kim

Sarah, I'm not sure if I expressed interest via D-Mail or not but I would LOVE some seeds from your white and pink if you still have any left! Those are SO PRETTY! I don't have any bi-colors other than Lady Baltimore.

Sincerely,
Kim

Susan, I agree, Big Box stores get plants that have been force feed for a big show when up for sale. When buyers get them home the care and conditions are abruptly changed and they can 'crash'.
Hibiscus are notorious late risers in Spring, that is why I recommend planting Spring bulbs around them. It's easier to find them in Spring and you also get 2 seasons of blooms in the same space.
Also keep a sharp eye for cut worms around the new growth, they love the tender shoots.

Kim, Check your mail Wednesday, I personally handed your seed letter to the post woman yesterday AM.
About hand pollinating, I have also found that morning is the most effective time. Last Summer I hand pollinated my Tetraploid Day Lilies and found those done in the afternoon seldom took. (Both of these flowers last only one day so afternoon may not give them enough time.)
I do not hand pollinate the Hibiscus and less than half make viable seed.
Andy P

A friend of mine said that her mother took cuttings early summer and rooted those. It didn't seem to effect the mother plants. They all bloomed very well late August. I'm going to try that this year. I have many varieties but some don't seem to set seed well. I also read somewhere that hibiscus don't always come true from seed. Anybody else try cuttings?

Kathy

Oh!! Pollination!! Okay, I guess when "nature" takes care of these things, I don't think to!

Yes, I've heard cuttings are a great way to start too.. I have not done so, but would certainly be willing to try this year if I know how. I wonder if it's like a hydrangea? I love rooting them and have lots of starts I'm trying to build up of the forever pink.. But I'm changing the subject!

Susan