Hidden Valley Hibiscus Forum

Black Cherry is a rare cultivar that we hope to see more of in the future. It is one of the very few varieties that show an almost black color, in the case of Black Cherry the black is in the outer wide edge with a deep red shot thru with gold rays in the interior of the flower. The bush tends to grow tall and slender but not floppy at all. The flower is usually a mini, which is defined as flowers less than 5" in width. It varies from 4" to 6".

If you are interested in the darkest colored hibiscus, see Black Dragon and Dark Angel for examples of 2 others that contain close-to-black colors.

Charlie

Hi Charlie,

This variety coming into stock soon?  Who are the parents? :)

This photo is for Chris - have hope my friend, Black Cherry does open! This is a photo of a larger plant in an 8 inch pot that bloomed yesterday but I didn't see it until today. Plant purchased by a local enthusiast and shipped out today.

Charlie

OMG it looks amazing. Somebody's very very lucky to be receiving this beauty soon :)

Charlie,

Im still crossing my fingers that I get some blooms soon!  I brought it inside, but it has had a mite setback so we will see what happens.  I do see several microbuds forming, so I hope that I will be able to see some blooms as they develop indoors before I have to cut it back for moving.  Its getting a bit too tall to fit in the box! 

That picture is motivation, such a cool bloom and great color! :)

Ahh Charlie, I beleive that is my plant. Wow. Can't wait!

Hey Len, that's the one. You can see why I hoped to get it to you on Saturday - 2 big buds were about to pop! There's 2 more big ones that will open very soon, too.

Charlie

I got the plants today. I saw the two buds ready for tomorrow morning. Firestorm is well mannered already too. It will go in the ground in a few weeks.

PS - I love going to the open houses. My issue is I have either a mountain bike race or training ride on Saterday's.

Hi Charlie,

Just wanted to let you know that the bush on my Black Cherry looks great, it seems to have a great growth habit to it. I'll have to take a picture and post it because I do think that it is one of the best growing bushes that I have seen.  Black cherry bloomed almost black the other day I should have taken a picture, I have two seed pods growing on it I sure hope they take.


Patrick

One of the ways to judge the overall quality of a variety is to look at the oldest plants of it. Some varieties have an early surge of healthy growth and then go into a slow decline while others hang it there year after year doing well. My oldest Black Cherry is about 10 years old and in a 10 gallon pot. It has a strong and thick main trunk, stands about 6 feet tall, and is very well branched. When I grafted the old wood last year I thought it might not take due to the infestation with fungus that old wood often has but to my surprise almost all the grafts took and grew into nice little 6 inch potted plants. I give Black Cherry kudos for sticking around and performing well without any special treatment other than water, fertilizer, and insect protection and not always enough of all these.

Charlie

Here's a bloom of Black Cherry and the bush.

I love seeing these rare blooms growing elsewhere. Good example of Black Cherry, Patrick. Bush is looking good, too.

Charlie

No blooms from this one anytime soon, sigh.  It has no leaves, spidermites... :( I used a double dose of Super Nova, and the weather is warm.  I hope that I didn't lose this one :(

So it looks like i need another Black Cherry also :( its dying I think the spidermites are the reason.

I sent in another request for one ! I hope you graft a few more  :)

Same here Kerry,

Mine declined and died pretty quickly :(

x3!  Hehe.  I regret not snapping BC up when I saw it in the store.  I think I'm on the list.  Have already started saving up for Jan 1.  The store opening is better than Christmas!!!!!!

Charlie, any of these in the pipeline for this year?

I was looking at my big stock plant of Black Cherry when cutting scion wood for grafting last week, but didn't cut any. There were a dozen or so plants of it available last year. I can't recall who got them but we've not seen any photos here since. Should I consider this a suggestion? I'm happy to do more Black Cherry - it's a pretty one and pretty unique, too.

Charlie

I lost my Black Cherry Last year, never even saw it bloom!  Super Disappointing, do you have any look-alike seedlings of BC coming along Charlie?  What about Dark Angel? :)

I'd definitely like to try out Black Cherry if you get around to grafting it, Charlie.  Also, if either sets seed, I'd like to cross it with my Haute Couture to see if I can get an Amethyst Heart look-alike.

And... while we're on the subject... I've been dying for Renaissance Blue as well.  ;)

I have no idea how I got one as I do not check the new arrivals very often but one night I was on and there it was - available. I quickly bought it (and of course some others  :) ). It is still in a pot but will be planted shortly. Sorry I was a little late on the picture as the flower had already started to expire. But you can still see the great color on this one.

Here it is in shade.

Great color, Len. I'm sure glad to see a Black Cherry hanging in there and ready for the ground. I have a very old one that has been around at least 10 years so hopefully yours will be long lived too.

Charlie

It's in the ground! I just planted it.  8)

10 years. That is great. I will need to find it in your garden next time I pick up plants.

It's not in the garden, Len. It's been in a 15 gallon pot for all these years and still is. By the way, we moved the house and office from Fallbrook to a nice flat property between Hemet and Winchester this past winter. Eventually everything will be here, but that will take a few years.

Charlie

Charlie, do you have any Black Cherry look-a-likes coming along?  This one seemed to decline for me quickly when it started, so I am hoping a more hardy variety is in the works.

This one is fairly similar.

CB

Oooh... That's a beauty!  :o

Um yes please, what cross is this one?