Fantasia Hardy Hibiscus

Many gardeners are familiar with the tropical hibiscus, and also with the hardy hibiscus, often called the rose of Sharon. Far fewer are aware of another hardy hibiscus, a plant native to North America, often called rose mallow. This plant is hardy, but has larger flowers, even bigger than tropical species, and makes a great garden plant. When you see the blooms on your Fantasia Hibiscus, you will know exactly how fantastically amazing this plant is. A hybrid of two different rose mallows, this wonderful shrub has huge, 6 to 8 inch blooms with ruffled, overlapping petals, like a pink dinner-plate. Stunningly beautiful, this is probably the largest bloom on any plant that will grow in colder zones. You will be amazed at the beauty and vibrancy of these blooms, a delicious rich pink, with a dark magenta-pink central eye. Blooming in abundance all through summer, this is a knock-out shrub for your beds, growing to only 3 feet tall in pruned annually, which we recommend. Great too in a planter or large pot, you will enjoy this very different hardy hibiscus, which even grows in shallow water!

• Enormous bright pink blooms with a crimson eye
• At least 2 months of blooms, right through summer
• Grows well in wet soil and even in shallow water
• Brings hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden
• Winter hardy to zone 4, yet grows well in hot and humid areas too

Grow the Fantasia Hibiscus in full sun for maximum blooming, but it will also take a little shade. It will grow in all types of soil, preferring heavier soils with clay in them, and also growing in wet places, along streams for example, or by a pond, and even directly in shallow water. It will also tolerate drier conditions, but does best with plenty of water. In cold zones it may have some winter die-back, but that doesn’t matter, as we recommend hard spring pruning, back to just a couple of inches, if you want big blooms and compact growth. It may take a while to re-sprout, so be patient, because it is fast-growing once it gets going. Generally free of significant pest problems, but may have some problems with Japanese beetles. Deer normally avoid it.