Fireball Fleming™ Hardy Hibiscus

If you love the look of hibiscus, either the tropical kind or the hardy rose of Sharon, then you will be blown away by the stunning beauty of the Fireball Hibiscus. A different, hybrid variety, it is a form of the rose mallow, an American native plant related to other hibiscus. Wow, and what a plant it is. The enormous flowers are up to 10 inches across – that isn’t a typo – the size of a dinner plate, flat-faced, with overlapping petals. They are a brilliant rich red-pink, with a smaller, darker-red eye in the center. In bloom for around 2 months or more, in early summer, it forms a compact bush 3 or 4 feet tall, if pruned hard each year, which we recommend. It has attractive green foliage too, with purple veins, and is cold-hardy into zone 5. Yet it also grows in all the hottest parts of the country, enjoying the heat and humidity. It thrives in ordinary garden conditions and revels in wet places, even growing in shallow standing water. Grow it in garden beds, as a lawn specimen, or in pots, where its beauty really stands out.

• 10-inch blooms of rich, deep red-pink, the size of a dinner plate
• Flowers produced over months, through early summer and beyond
• Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies – bring life into your garden
• Thrives across the country, from zone 5 to the hottest areas
• Grows well in wet soil and even in shallow standing water, such as by a stream

Plant your Fireball Hibiscus out in full sun for the best blooms. It grows in most soils, including heavy clays, and prefers moist soils, even growing directly in water. In ordinary garden conditions you may need to water regularly for the best growth. It isn’t eaten by deer and doesn’t normally have serious pest or disease issues. Typically dies back in winter, and should be hard-pruned in early spring. It can be slow to sprout in spring, but don’t worry it grows vigorously once it starts. Flowers profusely on new growth. Remove dead flowers to encourage more.