Long – Haul blooms!

Consistent flowering and easy to grow, is what HibisQs is all about.

Summer is synonymous with alluring hibiscus flowers covering huge evergreen shrubs in temperate and subtropical gardens all over the country. But now, even those with limited space can also enjoy this extreme floral pleasure close by with the genetically improved ‘HibisQs’ – a range of beautiful hibiscus hybrids bred in Denmark by leading horticulturalists. ‘HibisQs’ have been around a while, but the good news is that we constantly add to the range of vibrant flower colours, which means that you can really colour-bomb your patio or balcony by planting them in pots and tubs. You will feel like you have been carried off to a far-away tropical island paradise where summer lasts forever! These compact and very floriferous plants were especially bred for container growing and to satisfy the ever-hungry indoor flowering plant market, as they start flowering from a young stage. They will do equally well in the garden if given enough space to mature in time. They prefer full sun but do well in semi-shaded spots, getting some morning sun and shade in the hot afternoons.

The plants have godly names honouring Greek mythology. They are compact and bushy (mostly 2 m x 1,5 m) with lush and healthy foliage with a seemingly unending flowering season as indicated by a part of their botanical name, longiflora. (The whole mouthful is Hibiscus rosa-sinensis longiflora). One vividly coloured bloom, mostly with a contrasting, darker eye zone or throat, seems to be immediately replaced by another, and the bonus is a large crop of blooms that can last for 3 days, with some varieties even lasting up to 6 days or more.

Interesting facts about hibiscus

• In some cultures, it can mean that the person with a hibiscus flower placed behind the right ear is single and is looking for a lover. If it is placed behind the left, the person is sorted out.

• Take a selfie with a bright flower from your new plant sitting behind your ear and use another flower to garnish your cocktail as they are nontoxic.

• Depending on the colour of the bloom, hibiscus flowers have a variety of symbolic meanings, including happy terms like ‘love at first sight’ (red flower), passion, optimism, cheerfulness, carefree and energetic.

Growth tips

• Plant hibiscus in compost-enriched soil with good drainage.

• Although mature plants are fairly drought-hardy, they like regular watering once or twice a week in summer. Young plants in the garden and pots should be watered more often in hot weather. Using water retention granules in containers will keep the soil moist for longer periods.

• Garden plants can be fed in spring and midsummer with slow-releasing fruit and flower fertiliser, while those in containers would like a monthly dose of Bioganic or Nitrosol. Hibiscus are hungry plants!

• Plants can be pruned after flowering to encourage new bushy growth for the next season.

• They can sometimes be prone to hibiscus stalk borer and may need to be treated with a systemic insecticide as a soil drench, such as Koinor, as a precaution.

Plants are available from Malanseuns and Plantland Nurseries, www.plantland.co.za