Hidden Valley Hibiscus Forum

I bought a 6' love story last year and unfortunately it didnt make it over the winter.  I wanted to share my experience with this variety.  It was a good grower and bloomed like crazy.  The plant that I received was covered in blooms.  The color is a pink/red with a bright white.   For me the double flowers were a bit heavy and drooped a little, but the singles were held high for everyone to see.  To me the flowers looked like a redpink and white version of rosalin.  Anyone looking for a variety that will do well in just about any condition, I would recommend it.  Perhaps when 6' pots are available I'll get another ;) 

I agree, Love Story is a really nice variety. This is its first bloom of the summer, a double. It also bloomed fairly well during the winter in a south facing window, mostly singles. I like both bloom forms.

Dave

A very nice bloom!

I agree Dave,  I really like how she bloomed with both forms, it easy to decide single or double when you can have both on one plant :)

Hi, Charlie, and others,

I would like to know if Love Story can be rooted, and to what purcentage.

Thanks. 

Nina

Love Story has performed pretty well in a lot of places. I am hoping to get it tried out in a very hot climate this coming summer. Do you have one, Nina? How does it do in your summers?

It can be rooted. A lot depends on how it is done. I have seen common garden varieties being rooted by commercial growers in Florida doing nothing more than sticking the cuttings in potting mix and then placing them under shade cloth. The humidity is naturally so high they root with such simple systems as that. But, exotics like Love Story require better control of all factors affecting rooting in order to be successful. I'm not sure why you are asking, if you are going to grow one you should use your grafting technique since it is quite successful, right? Another consideration is the age of the cutting. They work well for rooting up to 2-3 days after the cutting is taken, but if taken and shipped for a week or longer to someone they are best grafted. That's my experience, anyway.

Charlie

*raises finger*  I just moved to the central valley (San Joaquin) and it's HOT here in summer........



lol

I had one last summer, It did pretty good in the 100+ degree days we had July-Sept.  It succumbed to a vacation and house sitter failing to water it.  I think that It would be interesting to plant one in the ground next year and see how much of its Rosalind heritage it has retained.  So far the president crosses have been doing fine in the mild so cal winter, so I think I will be planting more varieties in the ground next spring :) (whenever I get back ;)

Hi, Charles,

Thanks for your answer.

I have two big plants already, I have asked the question because a friend wants me to send her a cutting and she does not graft.

 It blooms much better in the greenhouse with increased humidity than outside. It blooms in cycles, like Heaven Scent, a period of crazy blooming and a period of rest, and so on.  Many blooms are downward oriented, which I do not like, specially when they are doubles. The singles are better oriented.