MAHOGANY SPLENDOR HIBISCUS Hibiscus acetosella ‘Mahogany Splendor’

Characteristics  Type: Shrub  Bloom Description: Red, Showy  Zone: 7-11  Sun: Full sun, Partial sun  Height: 3-5 Feet  Water: Evenly moist  Width: 2-3 Feet  Leaf: Burgundy  Bloom Time: Summer  Attracts: Bees, Hummingbirds, Butterflies

Culture

Fantastic foliage with deep burgundy, maple-shaped leaves. Well-suited to the landscape, this colorful, drought and heat-resistant selection also combines well in containers with other sun-loving plants. Thrives in moist soils or even at pond's edge, yet is also tolerant of mild drought once established in the garden. Flowers appear in mid to late summer when plants begin their blooming cycle, producing flowers non-stop until the weather cools. The individual bloom is a velvety dark burgundy and opens in the morning, but lasts only one day, which is a common trait to most other plants in the hibiscus family. In the absence of rainfall, water an in-ground red maple leaf hibiscus in well-draining soil three to four times weekly, and ones in heavier soil once or twice a week. Monitor container plants daily and water them until water drains from the pot when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. The goal is to maintain evenly moist soil so the plants neither wilt nor develop root rot.

Noteworthy Characteristics

The deeply cut, red-margined, reddish-green leaves covering its slender branches form a dramatic backdrop for 2- to 4-inch trumpet blooms. Autumn's shortening days trigger the appearance of the dark-veined, pink or maroon blossoms. Although each blossom lasts only one day, the buds keep coming for several weeks. As a native of tropical Africa, red maple leaf hibiscus worships heat and sun. If you live in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, grow it as an evergreen perennial for striking year-round color. In USDA zone 8, the shrub dies to the ground with the first frost but sprouts again in spring. In all colder zones, treat it as an annual and replace it each spring or display it prominently as a container plant and overwinter it indoors Red maple leaf hibiscus grows so rapidly that its slender branches may not handle the weight of its dense foliage without bending or breaking. Pinching back a young plant's growing tips prevents this problem by keeping it at a manageable, 3- to 6-foot height. Cutting back the spent flowers solves another problem, that of reseeding. Unless you remove the faded blooms before they set seed, an army of volunteer plants may invade your yard.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Root rot may occur in soil that is over-wet.

Garden Uses

Border, Container, Water Garden, Asian, Contemporary, Rustic gardens