Hibiscus moscheutos
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growest
Location: Western British Columbia
The native hibiscus from southeast U.S. has been in my garden for several years now (Galaxy hybrids, hibiscus moscheutos).
Finally this past week I have a few of the glorious big flowers opening, but this is after years of watching big green plants with no flower buds, or flower buds that formed then dropped before opening.
Has anyone in the rainyside region succeeded in getting these things to flower reliably? I need some good advice or magic incantations or something...or these plants will be a very expensive part of the compost pile. Just too many months and years waiting for too little blooming season!
I do have to say tho, what gorgeous big exotic blossoms...if only they had started in July and continued to now instead of just starting to open in the rains of Sept!
Glen
Carolyn
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Sep-12-2004 at 10:56pm
I've now had my plant for about 3 years and have moved it each year to hopefully a better place. Mine, too, started its bloom in late, late August and the blooms are beautiful. First it started with buds that fell off but it has now decided to bloom almost 7-9" diameter blooms. They last a day, but they are glorious for that day!
I have mine now planted on the east side of the house, but it does get all day sun and doesn't fall into the shadow of the house.
I'm grateful it is blooming late when all else seems to be fading away.
Keep the faith - it's worth the wait.
Carolyn
growest
Location: Western British Columbia
Posted: Sep-13-2004 at 10:21pm
Carolyn--thanks for the encouragement.
I came home today to find both a "Red Heart" form, and a deep red type bloom open...in addition to the pink flushed blossoms that were open previously. I have probably 20 or so of these seedlings at potential blooming size...curious to see all the colour range of this mixture.
It also looks like the blossoms increase in size as the days go by, 8-9 in. on the biggest now, after starting out around 6" at first.
And still some buds on a few plants are going brown and/or dropping. Perhaps some forms will be better suited to our weather, and therefore more worth growing for us in this hibiscus challenged area of the world.
Overall, I think the rose of sharon bush/trees look much more worthwhile here...haven't they performed beautifully during the last few hot, sunny summers!
Glen
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Sep-14-2004 at 8:09am
That's interesting about the buds going brown. At least you are getting some bloom. I wonder what sun/temperature/precip conditions makes or breaks the actual opening of the bud.
I have been thinking I would like one. It would add a nice flair to my tropical garden. I also like the fact that they are fall bloomers.
Jeanne
growest
Location: Western British Columbia
Posted: Sep-14-2004 at 9:42pm
Jeanne--someone offlist mentioned to me that these plants in nature are actually swamp plants. She had been quite successful growing them with constant watering.
That reminded me of seeing them in several garden centres with the pots in the water plants area...set in a shallow water tray along with taro, papyrus, etc. I had just assumed they were confused, but could it have actually been me that was?
The wet Sept this year is a change from our very dry late summer/early fall weather for the last several years, maybe the blooms this time are telling something about weather and esp. watering as being important...
Glen
Lisa A
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Sep-14-2004 at 10:32pm
Thanks, Glen, for sharing the information that was private messaged to you so that we all can be smarter about growing this plant.
To whoever is Growest's kind informant - please post to the forum so that all of us can learn. Don't be shy, we don't bite, really we don't!
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Sep-15-2004 at 9:05am
Swamp plants, hunh? If it is native to SE US, such as Florida, that would make sense. I guess they call them swamp roses. Here's an interesting link about hardy Hibiscus. I guess they don't like wet feet in the winter.
"RAINY PLACES: In high-rainfall areas, such as the Pacific Northwest, it's a really good idea to plant them where their crowns will be well-drained. Also, leaving the stems over winter is better than cutting them down, because the hollow stem left will often fill with rain and rot the all-important crown out. The tall, greyish stems are very easily removed in spring and don't look too bad."
Pretty amazing flowers though!
Jeanne
tommyb
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Sep-15-2004 at 1:36pm
As part of the Souther Branch of the Rainy Side, I'd like to support the growth of the Rose Mallow. Maybe with bamboo as mine like to fall over. I like them enough to have picked up a white-with-rose-throat to compliment my pink specimen.
Mine have flowered each season, each season getting to about four feet in height. Maybe if I hadn't, like Carolyn, moved them each fall to a more appropriate location in the garden they would have done the seven foot tall thing. Now I have a pair to work with! These things are just right for over active bloomers.
I suspect,Glen, you need to import more sun and heat. As I've had more than enough the last few years, I will send some your way in trade for some of your extra rain.
Maybe a green house??
Tom
growest
Location: Western British Columbia
Posted: Sep-15-2004 at 9:28pm
Jeanne--a gardening acquaintance in Mobile, Alabama has smartened me up about their weather in the S.E. U.S.
Their rain is almost a daily occurence in summer , but winters are the dry season. Summer humidity is a killer, along with the temps. in the high 80s, low 90s pretty well every day...a far, far cry from our conditions in the rainyside region!
The native hibiscus grows wild in her area, and of course blooms all summer.
At the moment, tho, nice hibiscus blooms are a poor trade in relation to the weather that this gal and all the rest of folks in Mobile are dealing with...hopefully I'll get some news when the power comes back on down there!
Glen
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Sep-16-2004 at 8:22am
Glen, I knew Mobile and most of the Gulf coast had pretty wet and humid conditions in the summer and dry conditions in the winter but as I don't know much about hibiscus, it didn't connect. I know that they can often times grow cacti, in a well-drained soil of course, due to hot summers (albeit much more humid) and dry winters.
I have mallow that seeded itself on the sunny side of a plum tree in an area that has drip irrigation. It is one of the little lavender flowered ones but I like it.
Those deep red, huge blooms are something though. Maybe I'll have to try one. Anybody know of a local source?
Jeanne
tommyb
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Nov-22-2004 at 10:07am
Missed your query Jeanne, sorry. I got my white with red throat at Fergusons Fragrant Nursery. Ferguson's.
Seems like they had several colors. Very tempting plant selection. Be careful.
Tom
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Nov-22-2004 at 10:42am
Thanks, Tom. I have heard of Fergusons but have not been there. Too bad they don't have a list of the species they grow. It's helpful to check out what they have before going.I'll have to check them out next spring.
Jeanne
bakingbarb
Location: Washington, Western
Posted: Nov-22-2004 at 8:22pm
When I started reading this thread becasue I just planted a hibiscus in my yard. Then became thinking it might not flower here. Then after reading a bit more I rememberd that in Mi the plants were large and flowered in great amounts. Mi. is very hot and humid in the summer and we got plenty of rain. Winter is freezing and we get either rain or snow or nothing but frozen. LOL
After remembering all of this and reading the rest of the posts I am wondering if there is a way to help these guys flower. White rock around it?
~BakingBarb
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