Herself’s Houston Garden

Tea hibiscus can reach 7′ tall with a similar spread. The leaves will reach about 6″ across as they age. The red stems are striking as are the deep red buds.

Mulch well and water well. This plant does not like to be dry.

Does best in full sun.

The flowers should appear any time now, it is a fall blooming plant and they will be yellow. Each flower only lasts one day.

Often used as a hedge plant.

The red flower buds are used in cooking for teas, in salads, jams, sauces, soups and just about everything else.

* This is an annual, which I had not known or I wouldn’t have grabbed it. But it will make a nice filler in the butterfly garden until I can get that re-established. Seeds should be planted two months before first frost. This plant is not frost hardy.

Native of Africa according to some sources, India according to other sources.

This was popular plant in warm US areas while people still canned. The fruits were canned each fall. As home canning fell off, and because it is an annual, it fell out of favor over time. If you are looking to establish a pre-1950s garden consider adding this plant.

Problems:
Susceptible to root knot nematodes.

Roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa
Floridata: Hibiscus sabdariffa

This is an amazingly beautiful tree. New leaves come out red, transition to green, and it is full of lilac like blooms in the spring, but with out the heavy scent.

If you are lucky enough to have one, enjoy it while you can. I don’t recommend buying one to plant here. One fungus or another will eat it before too much time goes by.

Unfortunately for us, our was attacked by fungi before I knew to watch out for these things. The splitting of the bark at the bottom means its days are numbered. It was also planted way too close to the house so it can’t get a breeze through to help keep the fungi away.

If you catch the fungus early, you might be able to save your plants. ( see: Entomosporium Leaf Spot on Red Tip. ) This occurs when we have a wet cool spring or fall with temperatures between 60′F and 80′F and 12+ hours of rain. ‘Immunox’ is the recommended fungicide. Put a couple of drops of dish soap in when you mix the fungicide and it will spread better over the leaves.

If you still want to buy and plant one, and I understand, it’s a really pretty tree. Plant it in full sun, in a well drained location that will catch a breeze. Water frequently. Easy on fertilizes as photinia is salt sensitive.

These are sometimes kept super pruned into shrubs but are at their best when allowed to grow into tree form. They will reach 20′ in height.

This is an easy plant to grow, give it lots of sun and just a little water. It is often used in xeriscapes or desert gardens.  I found when I first planted it it would sulk when dry, so keep the soil moist until it is settled.

It will bloom year round.  This one was not blooming when I purchased it at Mercer and broke out in full blooms a week after I planted it.  Bees, hummingbirds and butterflies love this plant.

It can easily be propagated by root cuttings.

It will typically reach 2′ in height with a 2′ spread. It is fast growing until it reaches full size, then requires very little pruning to keep its size and shape.  All in all a very low maintenance plant.

Does not survive freezes, this one was lost over the winter of 2009-2010.