Opinions on 'Gerald Derr'?

Hi All,

I'm new to hibiscus so I need a little advice. My local nursery has marked their 40 dollar grafted standard hibiscus down to only $10.

The only had a few including:
'Prima Ballerina'- Don't care for doubles
'Standing Ovation'- Again, don't care for doubles
'Renaissance Blue'- blooming, color was spotty and faded, which from what I've now read is normal in hot climates so maybe not the best choice for me.
'Fiesta' - blooming. Okay, but not too exciting

and finally.......
'Gerald Derr' - This wasn't blooming but the online pictures look nice on this one. Would you recommend I run back to the nursery and buy it or no?

Thanks All!
Danita

$10 is a good price, if you liked it I'd say go ahead and get it. The vast majority of them do just fine in hot climates, tons of people around here in places like FL and TX who are growing tons of different hibiscus. You will need to bring it in for the winter though, it won't be hardy in your zone.

I looked it up and it's a pretty one. For ten buck, I would certainly get it. This was the first picture I ran across of Gerald Derr.
http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/world/texas.htm

I own Standing Ovation and it is a single. So, if they labled it a double, it was a mistake. And, the flower is very pretty.

Hmmm, Both websites I found show 'Standing Ovation' to be a semi-double. Perhaps it's an unstable double???

This link doesn't post right here so you need to copy it into the browser's address bar and add the w's and . :
armstronggrowers.com/newweb/Catalogues/Hotbiscus/060105_1404%20(D)/pages/standingovation.htm

http://www.logees.com/prodinfo.asp?number=R1943-2



This message was edited Oct 11, 2007 12:50 AM

cat, I've never seen a Standing Ovation as single. It's a double, sometimes semi-double.
Danita, Gerald Derr is one to have in every collection, no matter how much it costs.

Regards

Carlos

Run, run, run, as fast as you can...........

IN my experience here in SE Texas where we breed new hibiscus professionally, Gerald Derr is a beautiful flower that rarely blooms compared to the best of modern hybrids.
My 2¢
Barry

My Standing Ovation...

Oooh, that's good to know, Barry!

Gerald Derr is a good bloomer in most places. I sold it for years and now Zoes in Florida also grafts it for sale. Here is a link to a web page showing 3 open flowers on a Gerald Derr growing outside of Houston and a great photo of Gene Powell's little girl holding a flower - http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/world/texas.htm

Charles

Thanks for the advice everyone. :)
I haven't had a chance to get back to the nursery because it's somewhat out of the way. I may drop by when I'm in the area and check. With the full outside water ban and the possible ban on commercial watering in a few weeks, plants may be on dirt cheap clearance sale soon here in GA. Scary!!! :(

Danita, I hope you are getting some of the rain that is crossing over the US right now. It looked like a lot of the SE would get some.

Danita - I hope you get some rain soon - what nursery is it. I've seen some of these at Home Depot here in OK but not Gerald Derr.