Want to add a splash of tropical pizzazz to your garden? Think hibiscus!
Hibiscus is the one of the flashiest tropical shrubs around! The large vibrant colored funnel-shaped flowers are simply spectacular. The most familiar hibiscus to all of us is Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, originally from the tropical areas of Asia and cultivated for centuries.
Hibiscus can be used as specimen plants and are also beautiful when used as a tropical flowering hedge. They bloom in spring and summer with flowers ranging in size from 4-8 inches wide, single or double. Flower colors can vary from white to pink to red, from yellow and apricot to orange, depending on variety. A new variety, the Hot-Biscus, has a profusion of giant 8 inch flamboyant flowers that combine many different shades all on one flower.
Hibiscus prefer a well-drained soil, rich with compost, full sun to partial shade, and regular water during the growing season. During the blooming period, fertilize the plants every two months with a balanced plant food. To keep mature plants growing vigorously and to maintain an attractive shape, prune out about 1/3 of the old wood every spring. Pinching out tips of stems in spring and summer will increase your flower production.
We invite you to visit us soon, and have a look at these beautiful flowers.