Food-Gardening Lessons From A Wartime Victory Garden

Growing Hardy Hibiscus

Hardy Hibiscus - Mike Darcy

We often think of Hibiscus as tropical plants from Hawaii and other warm weather states. While this Hibiscus can be grown there, it will not survive our winters and gardeners often plant this and treat it as an annual plant. What many gardeners do not know is that there is a winter-hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos). Often referred to simply as Hardy Hibiscus, these shrubby perennials will die to the ground in the winter but reappear in the late spring. There are many varieties that come in shades of white, red, pink, and rose. I have several in my garden and they are now coming into flower.(Bees love them!)

It is nice to have a big perennial blooming at this time of year. The flowers are large and showy. Plants reach about 4-feet tall, and this is an excellent time to visit garden centers to select the color you want. Winter-hardy Hibiscus are best planted in full sun and they thrive in moist soil. Feed with an OMRI Listed organic fertilizer formulated for flowers for maximum blooming!

About Mike Darcy

Mike lives and gardens in a suburb of Portland, Oregon where he has resided since 1969. He grew in up Tucson, Arizona where he worked at a small retail nursery during his high school and college years. He received his formal education at the University of Arizona where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture, and though he values his formal education, he values his field-experience more. It is hard to beat the ‘hands on’ experience of actually gardening, visiting gardens, and sharing information with other gardeners. Mike has been involved with gardening communications throughout his adult life. In addition to garden writing, he has done television gardening shows in Portland, and for over 30 years he hosted a Saturday radio talk show in Portland. Now he writes, speaks, gardens and continues to share his love of gardening. To be connected to the gardening industry is a bonus in life for Mike. He has found gardeners to be among the friendliest and most caring, generous people. Consequently, many of his friends he has met through gardening.

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