Behold the Hibiscus!
Bold, enormous, and somehow delicate, these gigantic blooms are finally putting on their annual show in the backyard, with little to no help from yours truly. Their super-late emergence typically means they get lost in the spring shuffle, and by the time their stalks appear, I’ve usually moved on to other concerns. It’s totally unfair, especially considering how well they perform, how stunning their show, and how consistent they’ve been.
With blooms the size of dinner plates, in shades striking and soft, with foliage bright and light or sultry and dark, the Hibiscus – also hardy in Zone 5 – makes for a magnificent addition to the garden, and I may make room for a few more.
They can be shy and demure, or brash and loud, depending on the stage of their blossoms, and the colors of their petals and leaves. Such changeability and flexibility is a boon in a world that demands versatility.
