evelyninthegarden said:Clint ~ How long does it take for them to get established? My 'Blue River II' finally has buds on it, but I only planted a few months ago. It has only 2 stems.

Mine was established in year 2. I started with a gallon-sized plant last year. Mocha Moon is very hardy. It has the best branching. I'm impressed with it. It has to be in my top 3 favorite Hibiscus now.

Here's my new "baby" Mocha Moon:


My latest garden "predator" - the io moth caterpillar - a stinging caterpillar, on my Cranberry Crush.

The io moth is a bit rare, huge, and very beautiful. So, I knocked the caterpillars off into a coffee can, looked up the list of their natural food plants, and tossed them in the general direction of a wild Redbud outside my fenceline.

Here are some pics from today.


'Turn of the Century'

'Perfect Storm'

'Tie Dye'

'Heartthrob'

'Summer in Paradise'

'Mocha Moon'

Those are beauties, Clint! I only have tropical hibiscus, but I have a huge list of hardy ones I want to get.

After a period of time with no blooms, round 2 started today with Midnight Marvel:


Clint, can you give a list of names of your latest series of gorgeous photos? I think I know what all of them are, except the deep red and the pink below it. However, a newbie might like to see all the names.

DraDiana said:After a period of time with no blooms, round 2 started today with Midnight Marvel:


Clint, can you give a list of names of your latest series of gorgeous photos? I think I know what all of them are, except the deep red and the pink below it. However, a newbie might like to see all the names.

Thanks! I added the names. This has been a good year for them! Love your Midnight Marvel.

Thank you, Clint.
Let's see, the wish list has "another deep pink" (I have Berry Awesome), but I'm not sure whether to go for Summer In Paradise, Jazzberry Jam or Plum Crazy. I want Blue River II, because it is the only pure white. I want Pink Elephant because it is HUGE, and I don't have a light pink, and I want Heartthrob, because it appears to be the darkest red available. I'm going to run out of room, so I'll have to stop there...

Diana ~ Your Midnight Marvel is just gorgeous!

Finally, my first bloom ever on "Blue River II'!

Has anyone seen twin blooms like this?

You have the strangest things pop up in your garden, Keith.

The Missouri native wild Hibiscus moscheutos ssp. lasiocarpos growing by a restored Mill in Summersville:

More blooms. I had to stake it, as it was falling over from the weight of the bloom.

DraDiana said:The Missouri native wild Hibiscus lasiocarpos growing by a restored Mill in Summersville:

Hibiscus moscheutos subsp. lasiocarpos

Horntoad said:

Hibiscus moscheutos subsp. lasiocarpos

I got Hibiscus lasiocarpos off the Missouri Department of Conservation's website. That's the same folks who said there's no Mountain Lions in Missouri, but then tried (unsuccessfully) to prosecute a fellow for shooting one.

DraDiana said:


I got Hibiscus lasiocarpos off the Missouri Department of Conservation's website. That's the same folks who said there's no Mountain Lions in Missouri, but then tried (unsuccessfully) to prosecute a fellow for shooting one.

Yep! H. lasiocarpos is out of date. Even Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center still lists it that way. It also used to be called Hibiscus moscheutos var. lasiocarpos. There's a variety in California that was called Hibiscus lasiocarpos var. californicus, now they are all H. moscheutos subsp. lasiocarpos.

Brings me back to my college days learning about taxonomy in "Advanced Ornithology". We were told about "the lumpers and the splitters". Looks like the lumpers won the last Hardy Hibiscus round.

Starry Night - starting its 2nd round of blooming.

evelyninthegarden said:
More blooms. I had to stake it, as it was falling over from the weight of the bloom.

I use tomato cages on my hibiscus the first year. Usually, by the second year, they are established enough to stand on their own. Love your Blue River!!!

Rose ~ for sharing your experience.

'Mars Madness'

'Peppermint Flare'

'Fantasia'

'Turn of the Century' and 'Mocha Moon'

'Pink Comet'

The Hibiscus are amazing this year! Miracle Grow in July is what did the trick.