Ooo, a new forum for my question!

I bought two Hibiscus at the State Botanical Garden of GA sale: one was 'Moy Grande' and the other 'Pink Elephant'. They were selling them in the dormant state but a few varieties were showing signs of life. My 'Pink Elephant' is growing but 'Moy Grande' is just sitting there looking rotten. I popped it out of the pot and examined it and found a lot rotten roots. The crown has some rotten looking spots and some firmer spots. I thought I had picked out one that had some live looking roots, but I apparently shuffled the pots around wrong because this plant's root system doesn't look the same. I think managed to play the shell game against myself!

So, is 'Moy Grande' often later to emerge than other Hibiscus moscheutos (since it's actually an interspecific hybrid) or did I pay for a dead plant?

Thanks for advice!

'Moy Grande' is a beauty. Such huge flowers! As a whole, the hardy Hibs are late to break dormancy. But too much water can cause problems including root rot.

I had to chuckle, Danita, as I've outsmarted myself in the same way.

I agree, Tee! I've wanted one for a long time so I bought one despite the lack of obvious life. I know Hibs are late so I'm still hoping this sad looking thing will start growing. I'm hoping that it's just those more cold-sensitive H. grandiflorus genes that are causing it to lag behind. I haven't had it long so if it's completely rotten then they sold it that way.

I had waited way too long to get lunch so I was getting really dingy....but buying plants is more important than eating, right?

Quite right!

I wouldn't give up on it just yet. I have a luna pink swirl that has just started to pop up, and several wild varieties the are in various stages. I have a H. moscheutos that spent this entire winter completely under about six inches of water and now it's top is about six inches above the waterline.

It's been almost a year and it never came out of its "dormancy."