The Main Plant entry for Tropical Hibiscuses (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

HVH: "Would you like to own a bit of hibiscus history? Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the original hibiscus species plant from China that was described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 Taxonomy. H. rosa-sinensis was later imported to Europe from China, and is the parent of the modern hibiscus, whose species still bears its name. The 5-6" full, ruffly double flowers are a bright, glowing red, and even by modern standards, beautiful examples of hibiscus. The flowers stay fully opened on the bush for several days. The buds are so packed with petals that they begin to show their color a week before they open fully.

The bush is somewhat open and very attractive, with large, glossy leaves. H. rosa-sinensis is a very large, vigorous grower and prolific bloomer that tolerates sun and heat well. The mature size is 6-20' high in the ground, and somewhat smaller in pots. With all the wonderful qualities of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, it's no wonder it is the direct descendant of the modern hybrid hibiscus!"

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"Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is a bushy, evergreen shrub or small tree growing 8–16 feet tall and 5–10 feet wide, with glossy leaves and solitary, brilliant red flowers in summer and autumn. The 5-petaled flowers are 4 inch in diameter, with prominent orange-tipped red anthers.

It is widely grown as an ornamental plant throughout the tropics and subtropics. As it does not tolerate temperatures below 50 °F, in temperate regions it is best grown under glass. However, plants in containers may be placed outside during the summer months.

Numerous varieties, cultivars, and hybrids are available, with flower colors ranging from white through yellow and orange to scarlet and shades of pink, with both single and double sets of petals.

Despite its size and red hues, which are attractive to nectar-feeding birds, it is not visited regularly by hummingbirds when grown in the Neotropics. Generalists, like the Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Amazilia lactea, or long-billed species, like the Stripe-breasted Starthroat, Heliomaster squamosus, are occasionally seen to visit it, however. In the subtropical and temperate Americas, hummingbirds are regularly attracted to it."

Taken from wikipedia's page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H...

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The cultivars of this species are 10-15 ft. rounded, woody, evergreen shrubs or small trees with lance-shaped, glossy dark green leaves having toothed margins. Most bear 4-to 6-inch blooms all summer, although some blooms can be as large as 9 inches across. The solitary blooms range from single to ruffled and double. Colors include yellow, orange, pink, red, and numerous combinations.

The tender hibiscus cultivars won't survive freezing temperatures but are useful as showy summer bedding plants or in containers in those climates where they are not hardy.

Care: Provide consistently moist, rich soil in full sun. Plant in a protected site
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Propagation: Divide in spring. Root greenwood cuttings in late spring or semi-ripe cuttings in summer.

Problems: Rust, fungal leaf spots, bacterial blight, Verticillium wilt, viruses, and stem and root rots, whiteflies, aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, mites, Japanese beetles, and caterpillars.

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If you want the best chance of having healthy, vigorous plants with flowers next summer, your potted tropical hibiscus plants need to rest indoors from October until Feb/March. DO NOT push them to keep blooming indoors or leave them full of old foliage.

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HVH: "Hibiscus storckii is one of the original, native species hibiscus plants that is a probably ancestor to the modern hibiscus hybrids. It was discovered and named by a botanist visiting the island of Fiji in the 1800s. Expeditions to the island since then have not located any surviving examples of this species of hibiscus still growing on Fiji. The flowers are pink and white, and the bush is small, full, and well-branched.

Kew Botanical Gardens in England received cuttings of this species directly from the botanist who discovered it and fortunately has been able to grow it continually ever since. HVH was fortunate to obtain seeds of Hibiscus storckii in 2008, and will have it available for sale in 2010."

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The national flower of Malaysia.

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