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Re: Hibiscus

At 05:57 AM 8/28/97 -0400, you wrote:
>Has anyone tried Hibiscus schizopetalus?  I am considering ordering one
>and wonder if its needs are is different to other Hibiscus... not that I
>have grown any others, but the flowers on this one look wonderful, the
>description in the catalogue goes as follows.. ' Unusual deep pink flowers
>with deeply fringed, recurved petals.'  
>
>        Will I have room for it?  Of course, there's always room for
>one more... even after potting on another 12 Abultion seedlings yesterday. 
>(I wish the darned things would hurry up and flower, then I can see which
>ones to 'rehome'.)

Liz;
I've grown H. schizopetalus for years (I'm as nutty about tropical hibiscus
as you are about abutilons) and can recommend it..It can get quite large,
but you control that by root and top pruning in the spring. It should have
basically the same care as other tropical hibiscus varieties, full sun in
your climate, low phosphorus fertilizer during the summer and of course,
protection during the winter (don't let temps go below 40F, or if my math
is correct, about 5C there).

If you like Abutilons, you will *love* this plant. Flowers are closer to
red than deep pink, splashed with white. Flowers look like filigree, very,
very fringed and recurved with a long stigma/style that looks like the pull
cord on a lamp. No scent, sigh. It also makes a lovely standard, if you are
into that kind of thing. 

E-mail me if you want more details on pruning, fertilizing, etc.

Good luck!

Gerry >
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