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ith their big, open faces, long pistils and glorious
array of colours, hibiscus are one of the world’s
most recognisable fl owers. They ooze tropical
breezes and summer holidays, and have long been
popular with professional breeders and home gardeners as plants
to experiment with in the quest for wonderful new variations.
The plants we most associate with this fl ower have their origins
in the South Pacifi c, and generally have Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
and H. cooperi in their breeding. In the early 20th century,
crossbreeding began in earnest in Hawaii, with thousands of
hybrids created. The most resilient of these are still cultivated, and
remain popular in Australia. This wave of hybridisation added the
Hawaiian H. arnottianus to the mix, along with the African coral
hibiscus (H. schizopetalus), which introduced distinctive frilly
petals and vigour to plants for tropical and subtropical climates.
Subsequent breeding focused on increasing fl ower size on
compact plants, and hibiscus experienced a revival. These plants
with dinner-plate-sized fl owers were introduced as Hawaiian
hibiscus, while earlier hybrids became known as Fijian hibiscus.
Variable in vigour, some Hawaiian cultivars were very susceptible
to pests and disease, particularly under less favourable conditions,
which put many people off growing hibiscus. Today, plants grafted
on vigorous rootstock are less susceptible to problems.CHOOSING YOUR HIBISCUS
Hibiscus vary in size, from large shrubs suitable for screening
to low-growing shrubs. Vigorous, small-leafed cultivars, such as
H. ‘Archeri’ (‘Psyche’) and ‘Andersonii’, are useful fl owering hedge
plants. For a pruned standard or small tree, look to ‘Pink Versicolor’
(‘Ruth Wilcox’), ‘Sprinkle Rain’ or ‘White Versicolor’ (‘Swan Lake’).
Just remove the lower stems to create a clean trunk and canopy.
In recent decades, breeding in France has focused on so-called
patio hibiscus: compact plants that branch readily and fl ower
profusely. They are useful for pot plants or summer bedding in
warm areas, and provide short-term colour in cool-climate gardens
during the warmer months, with replacement each year. These
hibiscus are marketed in Australia as the Flamenco and Rio Clara
ranges, and include the popular ‘Ritzy’ with its fl uoro-orange
fl owers. Plants vary in vigour and may not have the longevity of
some of the trusted varieties, but they do put on a dramatic show.
Some hibiscus are higher maintenance than others. While the
Fijian hibiscus have proved to be reliable and low maintenance
over the past 100 years, some of the larger-fl owered Hawaiian
hibiscus may need more constant care to perform well.