Hibiscus

[Daryl]

There are so many cultivars these days...some are pretty, some are unusual, some are ugly, but I still like the relatively simple blooms. They are a high maintenance plant here, as all kinds of insects love them....still, I thought I'd  plant a few in my new garden and see how they go...we are removed from suburbia, so maybe isolation will help with the bugs? They do perform well here, and there are many breeders and commercial nurseries specialising in them here.

Feel free to post your favourite hibiscus growing in your garden

 

Daryl

 

This is a different species to the common 'Hawaiian' cultivars...semi deciduous H.syriacus...we are seeing a quite  few different cultivars here lately.

I have always liked simple but vivid colours...

 

 

Edited July 29, 2018 by Daryl

[Daryl]

 

[greysrigging]

I collected the seeds of this plant in 1992 on a remote island in the Gulf of Carpentaria ( northern Australia ) and I have been propagating them ever since. I think I have narrowed down the ID to either Hibiscus Radiatus ( Rosemallow ) or Hibiscus Cannabinus ( Kenaf ). In any case, I have just called it ,'native hibiscus' for want of its real ID. In Darwin I treat it as an annual as it dies off in the dry season without  supplementary watering. I grew it in the ground in the harsh Pilbara climate for several years when I was working over there, also does well at my mothers place in Camden NSW ( summer only ). Produces lots of viable seed that strikes easily. 

 

[Gonzer]

  On 7/29/2018 at 9:29 AM, greysrigging said:

I collected the seeds of this plant in 1992 on a remote island in the Gulf of Carpentaria ( northern Australia ) and I have been propagating them ever since. I think I have narrowed down the ID to either Hibiscus Radiatus ( Rosemallow ) or Hibiscus Cannabinus ( Kenaf ). In any case, I have just called it ,'native hibiscus' for want of its real ID. In Darwin I treat it as an annual as it dies off in the dry season without  supplementary watering. I grew it in the ground in the harsh Pilbara climate for several years when I was working over there, also does well at my mothers place in Camden NSW ( summer only ). Produces lots of viable seed that strikes easily. 

 

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That's an exceptionally interesting (understatement) species. True mallow-looking flowers with leaves that look like, uh...., let me ask my avatar, he'd know. 

[Monòver]

  On 7/29/2018 at 9:29 AM, greysrigging said:

I collected the seeds of this plant in 1992 on a remote island in the Gulf of Carpentaria ( northern Australia ) and I have been propagating them ever since. I think I have narrowed down the ID to either Hibiscus Radiatus ( Rosemallow ) or Hibiscus Cannabinus ( Kenaf ). In any case, I have just called it ,'native hibiscus' for want of its real ID. In Darwin I treat it as an annual as it dies off in the dry season without  supplementary watering. I grew it in the ground in the harsh Pilbara climate for several years when I was working over there, also does well at my mothers place in Camden NSW ( summer only ). Produces lots of viable seed that strikes easily. 

 

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It is amazing! Nice flowers with "special" leaves.

Can you smoke it?

[Gonzer]

  On 7/29/2018 at 11:02 AM, Monòver said:

It is amazing! Nice flowers with "special" leaves.

Can you smoke it?

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Why do you think it's called HIGH-biscus?

[greysrigging]

Haha.... I'll tell a bit of a story about these plants..... one time I had them growing on my front verge / nature strip. When they are about to flower, the new 'buds' and 'heads' look remarkably similar to.... er... buds and heads of a certain plant that shall remain nameless. I watched a car drive slowly past my place, then stop, back up some and a guy jumped out and pulled up my best specimen, threw it in the car and took off at a million miles an hour.... "good luck smoking that ya goose", I thought.

Then when I gave my parents ( near Sydney ) some seeds, and dad grew these magnificent 6' tall examples on the boundary fence. His next door neighbor was a long haired Willie Nelson looking schoolteacher, who took dad aside one day saying, "Bob, you know you have Weed growing there and I should know, been smoking it for 50 years...."

No fellas, I think its Hibiscus Radiatus...... LOL !

[Gonzer]

  On 7/30/2018 at 12:26 AM, greysrigging said:

Haha.... I'll tell a bit of a story about these plants..... one time I had them growing on my front verge / nature strip. When they are about to flower, the new 'buds' and 'heads' look remarkably similar to.... er... buds and heads of a certain plant that shall remain nameless. I watched a car drive slowly past my place, then stop, back up some and a guy jumped out and pulled up my best specimen, threw it in the car and took off at a million miles an hour.... "good luck smoking that ya goose", I thought.

Then when I gave my parents ( near Sydney ) some seeds, and dad grew these magnificent 6' tall examples on the boundary fence. His next door neighbor was a long haired Willie Nelson looking schoolteacher, who took dad aside one day saying, "Bob, you know you have Weed growing there and I should know, been smoking it for 50 years...."

No fellas, I think its Hibiscus Radiatus...... LOL !

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Classic!

[Monòver]

  On 7/30/2018 at 12:26 AM, greysrigging said:

Haha.... I'll tell a bit of a story about these plants..... one time I had them growing on my front verge / nature strip. When they are about to flower, the new 'buds' and 'heads' look remarkably similar to.... er... buds and heads of a certain plant that shall remain nameless. I watched a car drive slowly past my place, then stop, back up some and a guy jumped out and pulled up my best specimen, threw it in the car and took off at a million miles an hour.... "good luck smoking that ya goose", I thought.

Then when I gave my parents ( near Sydney ) some seeds, and dad grew these magnificent 6' tall examples on the boundary fence. His next door neighbor was a long haired Willie Nelson looking schoolteacher, who took dad aside one day saying, "Bob, you know you have Weed growing there and I should know, been smoking it for 50 years...."

No fellas, I think its Hibiscus Radiatus...... LOL !

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[GDLWyverex]

  On 7/29/2018 at 9:29 AM, greysrigging said:

 

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I have a red leaf version which is a favorite, though a bit invasive

It is called  hibiscus acetosella 

The one you posted looks like what we use to make a beverage called Jamaica from the  hibiscus sabdariffa 

One of my favorites in name as well as in form is

 hibiscus schizopetalus 

The flowers are pendulous and the branches are incredibly long and look like fishing poles.

 

Richard

Edited August 4, 2018 by GDLWyverex

[greysrigging]

I'm pretty sure my maroon colored one is a 'Radiatus'. The Rosella one also grows well up in the Northern Territory, used by some to make Rosella Jam

This one given to me recently flowered for the first time this morning, not sure what its name is.

 

Edited August 4, 2018 by greysrigging
Spelling error

[The Silent Seed]

Daryl,

Give us examples of "ugly ones" please? I'm curious. 

 

[GDLWyverex]

These are some of my favorite flowers from mi hibiscus

 

 

Richard

Edited August 4, 2018 by GDLWyverex

[Umbrae]

[The Silent Seed]

Daryl…. still wondering what you would consider an ugly one.