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 Hibiscus Agnes Gault
As I drive around suburban streets at the moment the hotspots in gardens are the vibrant Hibiscus ablaze with their large mostly single flowers. In our climate Hibiscus seem to languish in the garden with their bare woody stems through the winter and spring and suddenly burst into life in mid summer with a rapid growing of healthy leaves and then come the flowers. They keep coming till the frosts and even then, if planted in a protected environment, will flower intermittently until they are pruned in spring.
For maximum flower production plant Hibiscus in full sun with perfect drainage. Surprisingly more Hibiscus die from poor drainage than from frost damage. They seem to enjoy growing up close to the house, probably because it affords frost protection but also because of reflected heat. They are heavy feeders particulary during the summer months. Rose fertiliser suits them well with it’s high ratio of potash. Although they prefer regular watering Hibiscus flower and grow strongly in drought situations. There is no need to dead head as spent flowers drop cleanly.
prune by at least a third in spring when the weather warms up.Hibiscus can be cut hard back to bare woody stems and look most unsightly for a while but they always spring back into new life.
There are two main strains of Hibiscus--- one from Fiji and the other from Hawaii. The Hawaiin strain bears larger flowers, many frilled and the texture of the flowers are thicker. The flowers are extremely beautiful and exotic looking .As you would expect coming from such a tropical environment Hawaiian Hibiscus are intolerant of cold winds and frosts. They only flourish in very protected environments in this region. I have seen them grown very successfully in containers where they are taken indoors for the winter. Hawaiian Hibiscus plants are grafted to give them extra vigour and are normally more expensive to purchase. Fijian Hibiscus are easier and hardier for us to grow. The flowers are smaller but are borne in profuse numbers. For months on end bushes are smothered with flowers.
Typically Hibiscus flowers come in shades and blends of red, orange, yellow apricot and pink. A smokey lavender and pure white is also available. You can also choose from single, semi-double or fully double flowers. There is a range and colour pallet to suit all tastes.Most Hibiscus grow to under two metres but pruning can keep them smaller. Choose chunky smaller growers for containers.
Hibiscus plants are available to purchase through the summer and autumn months. They flower straight away so you can see what you buy.
As there are so many varieties to choose from the following 10 are my top pics among the hardier Fijian cultivars
Hibiscus Agnes Gault
Without doubt the hardiest and most free flowering of the taller upright varieties .Bright satin pink flowers are huge and overlap each other in great profusion. 2ms
Hibiscus Apricot Beauty
Clear apricot flowers with a red eye. Medium sized single overlapping flowers.Low bushy grower. 1m
Hibiscus Conqueror
Buff apricot with a crimson throat. Medium sized single flowers. A tall bushy grower. 2ms
Hibiscus Cromwell
White flushed pale pink. Large single flowers. Low bushy grower. 1.2ms
Hibiscus Crown of Bohemia
Golden yellow flushed orange with a red eye. Large double flowers. Medium bushy grower.1.2ms
Hibiscus Fijian Pink
Clear soft pink with a prominent dark red central splash.A mass of small single flowers over glossy leaves.Tall grower. 2ms
Hibiscus D.J O’ Brien
Bright orange tangerine with a carmine throat. Medium sized semi double flowers have ruffled petals.Upright grower. 1.5ms
Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis
The hardiest of the lower growing Hibiscus. Glssoy green leaves set off the medium sized scarlet flowers. Very bushy. Grows 1.6ms
Hibiscus Simmons Red
Bright tomato red single flowers with a pink eye. Strong vigorous grower.1.6ms
Hibiscus Suva Queen
Medium to large sized fully double flowers of bright pink. A dependable ,long flowered variety. Tall and vigorous.2ms
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