Hibiscus - the backbone of a tropical garden

Hibiscus is the backbone of my tropical garden.   The poodle hibiscus is a special one that I love.  I bought one years ago with my daughter, and now we are separated by many miles of ocean, so it brings  a happy skip to my heart whenever I see these flowers.  This is such a gentle salmon pink colour.

 The red hibiscus slowly unfurls, and then the flower only lasts a day or two, but there are always lots of flowers in bloom at any one time.
they like lots of sun, I just love how the sunlight is filtering through the delicate petals here. they are certainly hardier than they look here.
 perhaps my favourite is the variegated hibiscus - the red flowers stand out so magnificently against the snowy white leaves.
They don't require any special care in my garden, other than a good pruning every now and then so that they don't get leggy.  Thank heavens for plants like hibiscus as I haven't been doing much gardening lately and yet they carry on regardless.

Comments

  1. GigaThu Jul 25, 08:35:00 AM

    Uwielbiam te śliczne i delikatne kwiaty. Nie widziałam jeszcze pierwszego ze zdjęcia. Ma piękny kolor. Pozdrawiam.
    I love these beautiful and delicate flowers. I've never seen the first of the picture. It has a beautiful color. Yours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieFri Jul 26, 10:50:00 AM

      Giga,
      thanks for your comment, yes that one is such a delicate colour, and I love the extra little flower at the bottom.

      Delete
  2. LesaThu Jul 25, 09:37:00 AM

    I love the apricot one. We have several reds and one bright yellow, named for Fort Myers. You're so right---hibiscus are dependable, thankfully! The color contrast between your red and the variegation is truly beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieFri Jul 26, 10:51:00 AM

      Lesa,
      thanks once again for the pattern! Oh bright yellow would be lovely! I am quite proud of that variegated one as I grew it from a slip and sometimes they don't come true to colour.

      Delete
  3. VirginiaCThu Jul 25, 10:02:00 AM

    The variegated hibiscus is pretty hard to grow here, but I love it. All the other hibiscus settle in quite well, but the variegated one is always problematic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieFri Jul 26, 10:52:00 AM

      Virginia,
      The same here, but the white one really brightens up that area.

      Delete
  4. AlisonThu Jul 25, 02:50:00 PM

    All really beautiful, but that salmon colored one is special. I'm working on ideas for a tropical-looking bed next year, and I'd love to include some hibiscus that I can bring in to overwinter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieFri Jul 26, 10:53:00 AM

      Alison,
      Oh that sounds like a great idea, yes I think you will have to pamper it a bit during your winter.

      Delete
  5. SharonThu Jul 25, 06:40:00 PM

    They are just beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownThu Jul 25, 08:28:00 PM

    I like the variegated Hibiscus too - snowflake.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieFri Jul 26, 10:54:00 AM

      Stiletto,
      well we can pretend about the snow cant we? It does make me feel cooler though on a hot day!

      Delete
  7. TaniaThu Jul 25, 08:57:00 PM

    Oh I have hibiscus envy now...They are so stunning!

    x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieFri Jul 26, 10:55:00 AM

      Tania,
      They are so easy to grow here I feel guilty!

      Delete
  8. barbara woodsFri Jul 26, 10:05:00 AM

    One of my ste-daughter gave me one years ago and it finnally died last year. i think i need another

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieFri Jul 26, 11:01:00 AM

      Barbara,
      Oh sorry, it looks as though you also might have to bring it in during the winter.

      Delete
  9. BernieHFri Jul 26, 10:30:00 AM

    The salmon coloured Hibiscus is simply gorgeous. Here is my garden there are loads of Hibiscus shrubs, but they are all red-flowering ones. I think it's about time I planted some other colours.

    What I love so much about Hibiscus is just how drought hardy they are, and yet they get through monsoonal wet seasons just as easily. They're simply a must-have in any tropical garden.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieFri Jul 26, 11:06:00 AM

      Bernie,
      It is amazing how they manage to adapt to the extremes of our climates. I also like the red variegated ones, and they do grow quite well from a slip.

      Delete
  10. AnonymousFri Jul 26, 11:43:00 AM

    It's amazing that all that colour, all that beauty, and the flowers only last a day. Nature, once again, impresses - and in your garden!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieMon Jul 29, 08:30:00 AM

      Laura,
      all the more reason to make sure you walk in the garden every day - you might miss one!

      Delete
  11. LynFri Jul 26, 06:50:00 PM

    I can only grow the deciduous Hibiscus syriacus here, which can't compare to your tropical ones, although I do like it a lot. I am astounded by that variegated one with the white leaves - incredibly beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieMon Jul 29, 08:31:00 AM

      Lyn,
      I find anything with white leaves or white flowers really tends to stand out in the garden.

      Delete
  12. AnonymousSun Jul 28, 07:50:00 AM

    They are lovely indeed, hmmm wonder what their winter hardiness is? It doesn't get very tropical here in New Hampshire, err well umm, perhaps I should take that back as this summer has been very tropical with all the heat and horrible humidity, lol! As Lyn said above, that variegated one with the white leaves is awesome! :D
    Hugs,
    Beth P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieMon Jul 29, 08:33:00 AM

      Beth,
      Oh no hibiscus dont like any cold weather as far I know. I have been watching the heatwaves you have been having in the US! amazing!

      Delete
  13. JoyfulMon Jul 29, 03:36:00 AM

    Very beautiful. I love the colours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieMon Jul 29, 08:34:00 AM

      Joyful,
      thank you, yes I find photographing flowers for the blog makes me appreciate them more.

      Delete
  14. AnonymousMon Jul 29, 05:56:00 AM

    I remember hibiscus being in mums garden always. She always had a "Mrs Elizabeth David" which was so easy to grow from cuttings, it headed off to lots of other gardens courtesy of mum. Living in Tassie means no more hibiscus apart from the native kind but there is a hibiscus for just about everywhere :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieMon Jul 29, 08:35:00 AM

      Serendipity,
      Yes i find the more common variety quite easy to grow form cuttings, but my neighbor has a gorgeous one with a huge yellow and red flower and I keep trying and it never takes. I will persist though!

      Delete
  15. JacquelineWed Jul 31, 12:09:00 AM

    Your hibiscus are stunning, to say the least, and you've captured them beautifully, Gillian! You're right, the variegated white leaves are magnificent... my first time seeing such foliage. I've stopped growing hibiscus because they're prone to white flies infestation in my garden. Thank goodness, I get to enjoy them online. ;-)

    ReplyDelete

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