- Author: Trisha Rose
What a sweet surprise. Something I have mentioned in previous blogs, "look at neighbor's gardens for inspiration". I chose a Blue Hibiscus for my front entry this past spring because one of my neighbor's has this plant successfully growing in her front garden. I started with a one gallon plant from a nearby nursery and planted in native soil. In spite of the heat and restricted hand watering, my new hibiscus is thriving. So much so that I need to give it another haircut. It has been in the ground barely 5 months and has spread at least 5 feet across and 4 feet tall. It would be taller but I trimmed it back a couple of months ago. The flowers are actually a mix of purple shades and just keep coming. It still has plenty of buds and has given the bees a happy place to forage. I've also seen hummers nearby but not actually sipping nectar yet. The flowers have a texture like crepe paper. When I first started researching this plant the references mixed it up with "Rose of Sharon", Hibiscus syriacus. I compared the flowers and found the stigma is more pronounced with the syriacus, it also shows a deeper purple surrounding the center of the flower whereas the blue hibiscus shows only one color.
Native to Australia and properly known as Alyogyne huegelii this drought tolerant perennial fits well in our local landscape and thrives. It is hardy down to 23 degrees, so give it cover in areas where you expect prolonged frost/freeze. The Sunset Western Garden Book states that only 2% of the globe shares our Mediterranean climate. This hibiscus along with Alyssum, Grevillea, kangaroo paw from Australia, Cape plumbago, Kniphofia, Leucospermum, and lion's tail from South Africa, and from the Mediterranean, rock rose and herbs, rosemary , sage and thyme, are all recommended as stellar plants for our local climate. I grow many of these myself and they have done well so far with little water. Just watch for prolonged frost or freeze conditions as most cannot tolerate the colder temperatures any length of time.