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Summerific® Evening Rose Hibiscus
Hibiscus Summerific® ‘Evening Rose’ PPAF
Description & Overview
Evening Rose Hibiscus is a shrub-like, summer-blooming perennial with large hot pink flowers against near-black foliage. These plants may not break dormancy until as late as mid-June, so keep calm and hold out for the bloom show from mid-summer to fall.
Selective breeding brings about significant improvements in Dinner Plate Hibiscus. Evening Rose Hibiscus is part of the Proven Winners Summerific® series, a group of Mallow Rose (Hibiscus moscheutos) and hibiscus hybrids. The Summerific® series is more densely branched and compact than older varieties. Unlike older varieties, stunners from this series can produce flowers all along the stems, meaning more flowers and even distribution. Surprising but true: these tropical-looking beauties are hardy all the way down to zone 4!
Core Characteristics
Suggested Uses:
Being a moisture-loving plant, Hibiscus is ideal for sites that retain water. Summerific® Hibiscus are large and showy enough to act as a specimen plant. Their shrub-like proportions make them equally well suited to placement in the shrub border or the perennial border.
If you want to get to know your neighbors, plant one of these in your front yard. These plants are so magnificent when in bloom that chances are your neighbors will stop by to ask about them!
Wildlife Value:
The flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
A parent plant of the Summerific® series, our North American native Hibiscus moscheutos, is a larval host for over 20 species of butterflies and moths.
Hibiscus are highly resistant to deer browsing.
Maintenance Tips:
Evening Rose Hibiscus (like most Hibiscus) love the sun and need moist, well-drained soil. Keeping these plants watered will result in larger flowers and lush foliage. Deadheading will improve the appearance of the plant, but is not necessary for continued bloom.
The Summerific® series of Hibiscus are extraordinarily late to break dormancy. At the end of May, when all your other perennials are up and growing but there is no growth on your Hibiscus, Wait! These plants may not break dormancy until as late as mid-June. But don’t worry – their fast growth rate will have them caught up with the rest of your plants by mid-summer.
Hibiscus form thick, woody above-ground stems but will re-grow from the base each year. Leave the top growth in place until early spring and then cut the stems down to 4-6″ above ground level. It may take a saw or heavy clippers to get through the sturdy stems.
Hibiscus are moisture-loving plants so will require supplemental water during dry periods.
Pests/Problems:
Summerific® Hibiscus is a vigorous, disease and pest-resistant series with one notable and unfortunate exception. Japanese Beetles love Hibiscus. Japanese Beetles are active from mid-July through late August and their populations vary regionally from year to year. If you experience problems with Japanese Beetles in your garden, then be aware that Hibiscus will be damaged by this pest unless treated with insecticide.
Leaf Lore:
Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), a part of the parentage of this series, is native to North America. Its range includes most of the southern and Eastern United States, including southern Wisconsin. Its natural habitat is marshes, wet areas, and riverbanks.
Read more about some of the other Hibiscus plant’s we carry from the Summerific® series.
Companion Plants:
Being a late summer/early fall bloomer, the Summerific® series pairs well with other autumn plants. It combines especially well with ornamental grasses. Other companion plants to consider include Asters, Ironweed, and Rudbeckia.
