Hey Black Dragon fans...

I was just over at the HVH website and I saw that they have 2 gallon Black Dragons back in stock...It looks Cindy updated the website this morning.

Just thought I'd let y'all know since this one is hard to find, sometimes...

Have a groovy day :-)

karen

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo - you're killing my wallet!!! ;)

Stop it, Karen. ;) - groovin' -B

You know me guys, I would NEVER want you to give in to temptation >;-}

HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!! ROFLOL!!!!!!!!! I love this website, although I'm sure my hubby wouldn't appreciate the tips like this one!! LOL!! I need a *secret* bank account. One that he doesn't know about. Then when the plants appear he can just be amazed at the luck that we had someone just misplace such beautiful plants on our doorstep!!

Ha ha ha!!

Down to 1 now, Amanda? Did you break your daughter's piggie bank? (OF COURSE, I had to go see if there were any left) lol

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! No, AuntB - I'm holding off!! Thankfully ... I just can't do that right now.

I don't even find 1 now.

Look on the page with the 2 gallon plants, they have those separate from the rest and that's the only size they have the Black Dragon.

What is the HVH website please. I do not have any hibiscus and I think I need some. Where are some other places to check? Are some of them easier to grow or they all about the same?

HVH website is www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com Other terrific places are www.hypnoticblooms.com and hibiscusplace.com


Welcome to hibiscus addiction :-)

karen

Thank you and I think I will look at those sites and try to restrain myself lol. Every one of them look beautiful and I'm sure they would look awesome in my yard. My DH will only say not something else for me to dig a hole for.

LOL - have fun, and let us know what you got!

I think I will order C'est Bon and Mon Ami or Georgia Thunder. I can't make up my mind but I guess I'll start with 2. Can anyone tell me how they will grow in zone 8? Will I have to cover them or take them into the sun room? I don't have a clue on how big they get or if I put them in the ground. I need some serious instructions. I'm sure there is a "sticky" thread for them somewhere. I'm sure my list will be very long if I do this. I don't do many things half way.

if it is 8b, mulch and protect them. they will die back most likely ( if you are truly zone 8b and not a zone-stretcher like me), and return in the spring.

I've found though that even in 9b, I'll be enjoying blooms much earlier in the year if I bring them in for the winter (I have a greenhouse, but indoors should accomplish the same goal).

Thank you. I will plant them in a pot that I can move in during the winter. I was looking at some of the pictures on another thread and they are beautiful. Do they all require sun all day or can they grow in some shade? I will have to get busy and read up on them.

Matt has Black Dragon in the one gal. size, but the color looks much different than HVH photo. Also, HVH states this hib. is not for beginners. Does anyone know the reason for the stipulation?

Tussee

Kamikid--I've found mine do better if they're not in full blazing sun all day. I think it's probably more important for ones in pots than in the ground, but I'm guessing your summers get hotter than mine, so I'd keep them somewhere that they get shade during the hottest part of the day. HVH and Hibiscus Place both have places on their website where they talk about care, and check out www.atouchofthetropics.net too, David's not going to be selling hibiscus for much longer but he's got good care instructions on his website too (and if you like any of the hibiscus he's got in his catalog, order now!)

Tussee--I think (not sure though) that BD is a little pickier about water than some of the other hibiscus, not sure if there's any other reason why it's marked not for beginners, hopefully one of our real hibiscus experts will come along and comment. As far as the color--I've found lots of my hibiscus one bloom never looks quite the same as the next, and they often don't look quite like the pics on the sales website, but they're always pretty! Matt's picture looks more typical (to me at least) of the other pictures I've seen of it.

I did read somewhere that BD is a very tempermental hibiscus. They can also die very fast and unexpectedly. For no reason at all. Mine is in full sun but I am ready to place it in the GH to see if it wouldn't start to look bettter. It's leaves are curling up. No mites just curling leaves.

Liz, it gets hotter here than in Nor Cal by you - I've got both of my Black Dragons in part shade. One more so than the other. I have found that this one is a bit more picky about water and it really needs to stay "even" on the moisture. Same with Dragon's Breath, I've found. Both are easy compared to Time for Magic to me though.

I agree about Matt's photo.

http://www.fancyhibiscus.com/ check this site out

http://www.timdardis.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=219&HS=1

This message was edited Sep 25, 2007 6:51 PM

Hey Pugs, how cute is that t??? I love hibiscus stuff - I just bought this weird and different hibiscus bookend thingy made of koa wood. I think it's super cool, I'll have to take a picture for you guys - I thought it would be great on the shelves with all my gardening books. They've also got a cute hibiscus ornament from a seller that I want to order for mine and mom's Christmas tree :-)

How have people's experiences recently been with Fancy Hibiscus? I'm curious, as I just made a first purchase from him...don't think it will be a do-over though...

karen

Karen,
I just sent you a dmail. Urgent!

I haven't done any business with the company at all. I think it is because you have to call in to order.

I ordered once from Fancy Hibiscus and that was one too many orders!

Tussee

Hi all, this is Charles, using wife Cindy's account. I know Karen (hi Karen!) and some of the others here from our Open Houses but for those who don't know me I am the founder and head grower at HVH (Hidden Valley Hibiscus). Cindy mentioned that Black Dragon was being discussed and some were wondering why we put a little warning on it. Black Dragon is true to its well known parent, Dragons Breath, both being extraordinarily beautiful and super popular varieties. Unfortunately both can be unforgiving when something goes wrong and once they start downhill they usually don't come back. Too much water is the usual culprit but spider mites, fungus disease, or any other stressor can do them in. Now that's not to say that all die easily, because they don't. I have Dragon Breath plants that are 10 years old growing in 15 gallon pots. Once they get to be 2-3 years old they are tough and can take a lot. The reason we warned potential collectors of Black Dragon is that it is an expensive plant in 2 gallon size and we would hate to have someone lose one shortly after they got it because they have not yet figured out the best way to water and care for exotic hibiscus in their particular microclimate.

BTW, anyone interested in the new Bayers 3-in-1 that we discussed in our last newsletter will be able to pick some up at the OH on Saturday or it will show up on the website in the next day or two. However its done, hibiscus that are going to overwinter inside should be as clean as possible before moving then in. We have at least another month here in southern CA for good blooms and pleasant weather before doing that but its good to be prepared when the time comes.

Charles, I think I started the discussion on what was meant by HVH's warning on Black Dragon not being a plant for beginners. I am so pleased you have come forward and explained the reasons for the warning. Now, all of us here will know not to over water. Keeping a keen eye out for pests is just part of my daily routine in the greenhouse. Thank you for the information.

Tussee

Tussee and Cat, that's what I figured after receiving my order from Winn. 99.9% of the time, I only order from my select few of HVH, Robert and David (waaaah, so sad you've left the business, David), and occasionally directly on the phone from Curt Sinclair, but I thought, "well, what the heck, they advertise in the AHS publication of the Seed Pod and they have lovely pictures, I should give them a try".

Well, let's just say I will be sticking to ONLY my known dealers from now on. Matt Martindale was an excellent addition to my "list". Matt is the last new vendor I'll try - I'm not straying from my list anymore, no matter how unusual the cultivar - I've been cured of experimenting with the unknown...

Live and learn, right???

karen

Thanks Charles for the information on the Black Dragon. I know I have ordered a lot of gardening supplies from you but never any flowers. Come next spring I plan on checking you out.


Sorry Cindy I mean the flowers you carry.

2pugs, when you order plants from them you'll be thrilled at their quality :0)

Hi Charles & Cindy!!! Look forward to seeing you both on Saturday,

karen

Hi Charles and Cindy,
Glad to see you here. I too, have ordered a gazillions plants from HVH. Anywhere from 4" babies to 2 gallon pots. All are beautiful and healthy. My most popular pics of Gator Pride, Key Lime Pie, Voodoo Magic and Montserrat are all from them. The flowers are gorgeous and the bushes grow thick and glorious.

This message was edited Sep 27, 2007 12:47 AM

Thanks to all for the nice comments. For 2pugdogs, Cindy and I both spent the first few years of our lives growing up in Wichita and figure we may have seen each other in that neat old park with the duck pond that was there then.

Each year we start off with over 100 of the best varieties we have collected or hybridized. Since we both graft and root our plants we are not limited by what is propagated by others and strive to bring to market only well tested plants that pass our evaluations. We have dropped dozens of varieties over the years that don't perform as well as we hoped they would. Next year watch for new ones or ones in short supply last year that are really super, such as Acapulco Gold, a super bright alternative to Georgia's Pearl with a wonderfully lush bush, and Rainbow Sherbert, another big, bright cheerful flower on a superb bush. Neither of these fades, a flaw we see in too many new cvs these days. For those that like odd colors, we will have some near black and dark purple blooms such as Dark Angel and Indigo Fire. More on all these later. Thanks again for your comments.

Running a specialty nursery is very challenging, with high costs and more work than most jobs require. I don't have a lot of time but will enjoy monitoring this forum as time permits and be more than happy to answer any questions or put in my 2 cents on any topics that I have special experience with.

Charles

Cindy and Charles, WELCOME to DG and our popular hibiscus forum. It's so nice to have you here! We always appreciate your expert knowledge and experiences. Pop in when you can and keep us up on what's happening. I'm always envious of those who attend your OH's, just might make one sometime, it seems my vacations are centered around plants of some kind. Enjoy the community, here -Bonnie

Yes that neat old park with the ducks are still there. They have been making a lot of improvements to it. It is so hard to walk in the park without stepping into some duck droppings. I hope you will be able to visit it again some day.

I can't wait until next spring to see what new Hibiscus you do have to offer. Please do jump in any time to help us out with questions about the hibiscus. We all really do enjoy it.

Linda