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Welcome to Hidden Valley Hibiscus


Evening Hibiscus Garden
From left to right: 'Simple Pleasures,' 'Living Legend,' 'Saffron'

'Monte Carlo' in Page Border

2008 Online Store is Open!


Belle du Jour in a 6" Pot
Our new 2008 Online Store is now open with 130 hibiscus varieties, including 14 new varieties, along with all the care products your hibiscus could need to stay happy and healthy. For the best selection of the year, order now to reserve your hibiscus for shipping in the spring. Happy shopping!

"Just HAD to let you know - the plants arrived today... someone had to wake me up, because I SWOONED... they are so beautiful! Thank you so much for your care, the awesome blooming hibiscus and the amazing customer service on my request and in RECORD time. Please know that I am now a customer and fan forever. Thank you" Diane D

"Thank you so much. I received the plants last week and they are gorgeous. I just placed an order for two more plants. Again, thank you for the beauties." Sheila J

Diane and Sheila are just a few of the many happy HVH customers. Read more customer comments here! The photo above shows the typical size of plants in 6" pots (this is cultivar 'Belle du Jour') at the time of shipping, although size varies by cultivar and we don't guarantee the open blooms. See Terms & Conditions for more information on our guarantees and shipping policy.



Expert Advice... by Charles Black

Charles Black answers hibiscus questions. Charles is a world renowned hybridizer and grower of exotic hibiscus, as well as the owner of Hidden Valley Hibiscus. He has created many award winning hibiscus varieties, such as Heaven Scent, Her Majesty, Simple Pleasures, and Love Story. In this column, he shares his expertise in growing hibiscus with our visitors. Enjoy!

 

Yellow Leaves ~ Is it Chlorosis?

No question comes to us more often than, "Why do my hibiscus have yellow leaves?" It's a good question and we have dedicated a Yellow Leaves Web Page to answering this question, with a list of the ten most common causes of yellow leaves. The ninth item on that page takes a brief look at what is more properly called "chlorotic" leaves, or just "chlorosis." Today we will look at this common cause of yellow leaves in more detail.

What is Chlorosis?


'Chlorotic Hibiscus Leaves'
The green we see in the leaves and stems of plants is a green pigment called "chlorophyll." chlorophyll is much more than a pretty color. It is the essential substance that a plant uses to produce food and energy from sunlight, fertilizing nutrients, and water. When all of a plant's leaves begin to lose their green color, this means they are losing their chlorophyll, or the ability to produce food and energy for growth and flowering. "Chlorosis" is a special situation where plants have some kind of condition, such as a disease or nutritional deficiency, that causes them to produce less chlorophyll than normal.

How Can I Tell Chlorosis from other Causes of Yellow Leaves?

For our purposes, chlorotic leaves on hibiscus are those that turn yellow but do not fall off right away. Most other causes of yellow leaves result in the leaf falling off shortly after it turns yellow (spider mites, normal replacement of aging leaves with new leaves, extreme weather conditions, etc). When hibiscus leaves become chlorotic, they usually turn yellow between the veins that are visible on the leaf, while the veins themselves remain green. This gives a more mottled impression than a leaf which quickly turns yellow all over and then falls off. Chlorotic leaves will eventually turn brown along their edges, then the whole leaf may yellow and fall off, but this is a very slow process.

What Causes Leaf Chlorosis?

There are many possible causes of chlorosis. These are the causes we most commonly see:

What Do I Do about Chlorosis?

First, determine the cause of your plant's chlorosis.


Chlorosis at the tips of branches in the youngest leaves
is usually caused by a deficiency of iron
Apply the appropriate treatment to fix the problem.