Tangled Branches: Cultivated
happenings in and around my zone 6b gardens in northern Virginia and in central Virginia
Friday, October 03, 2008
Today's Color: Red
With special emphasis on the Malvaceae family.
Three malvaceous plants - new to the garden this year - will all be invited back next year.
Hibiscus acetosella 'Red Shield' is a very vigorous foliage plant with medium-red leaves. It topped out around 6 or 7 feet in a moist soil and afternoon shade, but is a more manageable 5 feet up close to the house. And these were plants started indoors from seed this spring. It responds well to pinching and pruning, rapidly growing side shoots. I like the leaf color - it's not so dark that it makes a black hole in the landscape, but dark enough for contrast. I especially liked it next to the 'Dallas Red' Lantana' and various Cupheas, including 'David Verity' shown here.
Abutilon 'Voodoo' has such attractive flowers that I'd probably buy it again even if it doesn't prove hardy here. What's that? It might be hardy here? Good question. I bought this one locally and the plastic label said "hardy to zone 7". I assumed it was a mistake. But Plant Delights is offering it and they have some astonishing things to say about how much cold it can stand: “Not only did it continue flowering into the upper 20s, but it kept green stems and leaves down to 20 degrees F”. Very interesting. I'm going to leave it outside all winter and see what happens. I'd always thought of Abutilons as annuals or houseplants.
I've already gone on at some length about Hibiscus sabdariffa, but I wanted to brag here about the jam I made from it. I made it on Monday and by Friday I've become addicted to it. I think I'll have enough calyces to make another batch or two this season - I sure hope so anyway. Four plants is plenty, but I still want more.
5 Comments:
Oh, I am feeling sorry for myself...having just now in trying to move my hibiscus Kopper King...offed his head! He is gone! He wasn't doing well...now he really isn't!
I love the M acetosella. Beautiful color and the leaves are gorgeous! You have given me hope that I can grow these plants from seed and use them to great effect in the garden....thanks Entangled
Your hibiscus-types all look good, Entangled - they're not happy in my garden this year - and the native Texas Star is a big sissy. The small Bella Red Hybrid abutilon is barely alive after this summer but has lived through two winters in the ground.
Bet I can't drink hibiscus tea without thinking of you!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Hi, Entangled--I'm catching up on my blog reading, so I'm taking in several of your postings all at once. These hibiscus are gorgeous, and I'm really intrigued by the Hibiscus sabdariffa. I know some people who drink Red Zinger in place of caffeine--does it have any energizing effect? And I can't wait to try the Inner Beauty sauce--I'm having trouble finding all the peppers, but I'm going up to Richmond this weekend so I'll try there. Can't wait!
Gail: I'm so sorry about your Kopper King - hope he recuperates!
The Red Shield Hibiscus was very easy to start from seed. I'd like to try some of the other cultivars in this species. Nan Ondra wrote about them recently.
Annie: The Voodoo abutilon wasn't really happy in the summer - it didn't look too bad, but it didn't grow much either and it didn't bloom. Now it has a good number of buds so I'm hoping to see it blooming past our first frost. I forgot to mention that it's planted in the ground.
I'm becoming an evangelist for Flor de Jamaica. The tea is good, but the jam is better :-)
Cosmo: Your comment came in while I was typing my previous replies (yeah, it really does take me that long to compose these things). I only made one cup of the hibiscus tea so far, but I didn't notice any energizing effect. Well, except that I was happy that it tasted as good as it did.
If you can't locate the peppers you need, I have plenty to share - just let me know if you want some.
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