Slapstick and Hot Southern Nights

[helixturnhelix]

Hi Charlie,

I really like both, but wanted to hear what you can say about both of these CVs side to side.  The color pattern is similar, Red and Yellow vs Orange and Yellow. My guess is Hot Southern Nights has more of a compact bush?   From the pics it looks like a more Living Legend, growth habit. 

[Charlie]

There are some similarities to be sure. But, Slapstick is one of the most vividly colored hibiscus I have ever grown. Hot Southern Nights is beautiful with strong colors and a well behaved, tall, and strong bush. Slapstick reminds me more of the bush of Rainbow Sherbet but the flowers are even more vivid than Rainbow Sherbet which is saying something. Below is a new photo of each you asked about.

Charlie

[farmer d]

I can add some further information regarding Hot Southern Nights.  I purchased a 4" in late summer of 2011 which is planted in front of my hot metal a/c unit but only receives sun until 2pm at latest then total shade rest of the day.

It is a steady grower and seems to tolerate the intense ambient heat of the metal framing of the a/c unit directly behind it as long as it gets the water it needs.  I have struggled with supplying enough water until recently and now with an emitter from my drip system I hope it is smooth sailing from this point forward.

I bet it would have grown a lot more than it has if it had received the proper amount of water over the last 2 years.  Currently it is 3'3" and branching out now from the bottom as well as gaining solid vertical growth.

Farmer D

[farmer d]

Here is a complete opening to closing sequence to demonstrate the coloration.  The camera does struggle to define the colors as seen with the eye.  It has very nice variation of patterns with a very large pink eye.

From the pictures I've seen of Erny's Slapstick the two are quite different in my opinion.  Eventually my Slapstick should be blooming maybe later this summer.

Farmer D

[farmer d]

Charlie as a footnote I was going to post this under the topic "Hot Summer Nights"  but it is incorrectly titled so I thought it appropriate to place here for ease of finding it.  If you want to fix that title I can also post there as well.

Farmer D