Joyful Hardy Hibiscus

Once you see hardy hibiscus for the first time, it is hard to imagine how you lived without them in your garden!

Hardy Hibiscus or Swamp Rose Mallow, formally known as Hibiscus moscheutos, is adored for its enormous colorful flowers, often the size of dinner plates. Grown as an herbaceous shrub, this perennial showstopper pleases in the mid to late summer garden. There are many varieties to choose from in heights from 4-6’plus and flower colors of white, and shades of pink and red. The foliage is attractive, too – in shades of green or red, depending on the variety chosen. It might be hard to decide, so why not find a suitable location in the garden and plant a few.

Grow hardy hibiscus in full sun and moist, well-drained soils. Hardy hibiscus is tolerant of heat and humidity – think Long Island summers! Hardy hibiscus is late to appear in spring gardens; mark the planting area so you do not plant in the same location. Uses: mixed landscape or garden beds and borders, large planters; by ponds, streams, or other wet areas.

Worth mentioning…

Don’t confuse hardy hibiscus with tropical hibiscus; tropical hibiscus will NOT overwinter in the Long Island garden or landscape. Whereas hardy hibiscus is hardy in zones 4-9; we are considered zone 7b in Nassau County and parts of Suffolk.