Hidden Valley Hibiscus Forum

These were sent in by Dave N, who may have something to day about them in a follow-up. I have to say that I am impressed by how nice these plants look at the end of winter!

Charlie

Charlie, thank you for the complements on my plants and also for posting the pictures on the forum. Blonde Ambition was a late October purchase in 2008 in the 4 inch pot size.  This is its first bloom which measured 8 1/2 inches across while the plant is just under 8 inches tall. The bloom lasted 4 days.  I'm amazed how some of these cultivars can put out such large flowers when the plants are still very young and small.  All my hibiscus overwinter inside the house in front of slightly tinted south facing windows. I lose that direct sun about March 1st because of the roof overhang, so all the plants are moved to an unheated greenhouse where these pictures were taken.  Many thanks to Cindy for her recommendation of this one.

Dave
AZ zone 8

Hi Dave,

As Blonde Ambition continues to grow I think you will see what a handsome bush it makes with extra glossy leaves and good full habit.

You remind me of the first year I started growing a lot of hibiscus. Dale Dubin, the Florida hybridizer of Dragon's Breath and Byron Metts, sent me a whole bunch of wood of his brand new Byron Metts. BM was not only a huge flower with great texture but also one of the very few solid white hibiscus. I was able to graft 65 new plants from the wood he sent and when they first started blooming many were only a few inches tall. The 8 inch flowers completely hid the tiny plants underneath the flower and I was amazed they could even hold the flowers upright. Some varieties bloom early like this while others need more time, but it also depends on the condition of the wood that is grafted or rooted. If the wood is mature and taken off a flowering bush it often blooms earlier than if the wood was greener when cut.

I look forward to seeing more of your photos this summer!

Charlie

this makes me want to purchase a blonde :)