I moved into a new rental house last year and found this hibiscus. The blooms are about 6in/15cm across. Hibiscus with this flower type were planted around Adelaide a lot in the 1970s and 1980s so I think this bush dates from around that time. It is very vigorous and I have already had to give it two fairly heavy prunings. If anyone can name it I would be most appreciative, Thankyou, Kaelkitty.
Here is a picture of the whole bush, sorry it is a bit blurry - it was a windy day.
Here is the base of the plant from the other side - it is obvious the original gardeners couldn't prune a plant properly to save their lives! TTFN, Kaelkitty
It may not be a named variety--I think there's a garden variety double red one that wouldn't have a cultivar name. I have a double red called 'Celia', but I'm not sure if it's been around long enough for that to be it and I don't know if it would grow that vigorously (mine is in a pot and hasn't grown much at all since I got it)
Don't know the name - I have the same one but in a pot - it's about 7 years old and it's about 5-6 feet tall - if let it it would be much taller! In the summer months it blooms constantly - isn't it beautiful?
I had one like that from the early 70's until 1999 when I had to give it away because we were moving. It was in an 18" pot and every year I would remove it and root prune before repotting. It was such a beautiful plant, I wish I could find another. That one bloomed constantly and there were always many, many flowers open at the same time. I don't know for sure but I don't think there were many named hibiscus in those days. I remember seeing some named varieties for the (my) first time in the Florida Keys probably in the early 80's.
Your pink hibiscus looks like "Kona" which is described in the "Western Garden Book" as follows: "ruffled double pink flowers. Vigorous, upright, bushy to 15 -20 ft. Prune regularly." My parents had one in their garden, looked just like the one in your photo.
I thought Kaelkitty's flowers looked red not pink. Even if it is a dark pink instead of red, I used to have 'Kona' and it's definitely a lighter pink than what's pictured here. I know lighting and computer monitors can make colors look different, but I'd be really surprised if Kaelkitty's plant was 'Kona'. Here's a pic of my 'Kona'
Yes, I know Kona, we grew one in the 1970s at a previous house. The plant here has the same flower form and size, even similar leaves, if I remember my old plant correctly. This plant HAS much darker reddish carmine flowers than Kona. As far as colour goes, on my monitor, both Kona and my new plant look correct to my eye.
The two plants however, share so much apart from colour that I am wondering if my new "red" hibiscus came out of the same breeding program as Kona - does anyone out there know if this could be possible?
Sorry about my misidentification, the flowers in your photograph looked pink on my computer, and as you noted, your hibiscus' overall appearance, flower size, and vigorous growth is very similar to 'Kona.' There is a double red called 'Diamond Head,' but the flowers on your plant do not look dark enough. Another double red is 'Red Dragon,' but its only supposed to get about eight feet in height. When I lived in Hawai'i during the1960s I remember seeing lots of varieties of hibiscus, both double and single that are no longer common. Nowadays its difficult to get information or even a name for some of these older hybrids.
Kaelkitty;,,
Theres a GV thats been around for awhile that looks similar to the bloom you have in your picture known as "Pride of Hankins". With so many different red doubles, it's just another possibility to throw in the kettle along with the others....You may want to try googleing Pride of Hankins and see what you come up with.....
....Dave
KK, If you google Hibiscus world which is a nursery in Queensland,you should have some luck with the i.d as they have an extensive online catalogue of many commonly grown old and new cultivars and I'm sure they would be only too happy to help you .I have Kona aka Mrs George Davis and Jewel of India and they are both floriferous and tough shrubs..I much prefer the old doubles any day over the big gaudy tropical singles...but then again a lot don't like the doubles either,I guess it all comes down to personal preferences...
This message was edited Jan 3, 2008 4:08 PM
