Perennial Hibiscus

[Ann B.]

All of the ones planted in the ground have emerged. They are the named ones like Texas Star as well as one unamed one that I planted not knowing whether it would come back.

The seedlings that I started from the ones that Kathy Pat gave me are all up. They are the dinnerplate hardies, so I can't wait for them to bloom. They are still in pots, but need to find a permanent home SOON!

I truly love my tropicals, but it is nice to see the perennial ones return year after year without having to protect them from frosts.

When they bloom, I'll post some pictures here!

[3girls]

Ann, did your hardy hibiscus just come up? I'm sitting here in my zone looking at over 100 pots that look deader than a doornail. I think I saw 2 (two, dos, due, etc) that look like there may be some life. I'm terribly disappointed, but will wait until the end of June to give up and throw them out.

--SIGH--

[Glen in BCz7]

Sandi--I was surprised to learn about hibiscus moscheutos, not common in the northwest.

The Galaxy hybrids I grew from seed were advertised to be one zone hardier than normal, a zone 5 rather than 6. This would be in the ground, tho. Pots are usually considered a zone colder?

What zone would you be in there?

Glen

[Ann B.]

Sandi,

The first of the seedlings in pots started popping up aruond April 1, and it wasn't until around May 15th until the only one that was still dormant began to emerge.

My seedlings are now a year and half old. I didn't fertilize them much until now, so I am not sure if they will bloom this year or not.

The tallest ones are now about 1 1/2 ft tall. They are in one gallon pots, and that will not be enough by the end of the season, so they will find their home in my flower beds as soon as I get a chance to finish preparing the beds.

I don't think you have any reason to be alarmed about them not emerging yet. Like I said, the last one (which is one of the larger ones) just started emerging, and one of the ones in the ground is only about 2" tall now. The latter took what seemed like forever to emerge, and it is not a seedling (Kopper King).

Hang in there! If you are really worried, you could remove some soil from the top of one of them and you should see nice healthy large roots.

Let us know!