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GrowTropical
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« on: December 16, 2008, 04:29:41 PM » |
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I hope its ok starting a new topic. A couple others did it so I wanted to mention this variety. Like a lot of people I've always liked but sort of taken for granted the red hibiscus you see everywhere in southern CA. When i saw that a more intense red was being offered I decided to try it. Heart of My Heart does have an amazing color, such a deep intense red I've not seen before. If it has a drawback it is that the flower is smaller than most HVH varieties, about like the standard red in size but it has perfect round shape and as I said a great red color. The bush has gotten tall enough, about 4 feet in 2 summers of growing, and it has lots of little branches and each branch blooms so there are often a lot of flowers. Still, I have a desire for a bigger red flower that is also more brilliant than Brilliant. I wrote to HVH to ask about this and was told that they have been working on it. Apparently there will be several new ones shown this year and next year that are different shades of red and also big in size. I can't wait to choose one or more as I have this space in the garden that is farther from the house that I want to fill with red color you can see even from inside. that is one of my favorite things about HVH hibiscus - they are visible from far away, gay splashes of color everywhere you look on a good day! So, while I like Heart of My Heart, I am also wanting a big red flower and will let you know how that one does after next summer.
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Cindy
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« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2008, 05:36:52 AM » |
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I agree, Grow Tropical! We have a Heart of my Heart in the garden that is blooming beautifully right now, and the flowers are perfect in every way except size. I especially like how heavy the texture is.
I keep bugging Charlie to hybridize more reds. He used to think red hibiscus were too plain and nobody would want them. But I'm one of those people who loves the red ones! So we're working on hybridizing more reds now. We actually have a new child of Heart of my Heart that's a beauty and much bigger. It has Heart of my Hearts heavy texture and the flowers last for several days. But it's so dark that it's a deep burgundy instead of a red. We have a few more reds coming up in the next couple of years too, and they'll be getting bigger and brighter. The downside to the reds is that their edges tend to turn black very quickly in summer sun. Heart of my Heart is one of the rare reds that doesn't do that. So Charlie keeps trying to create new, bigger reds that also don't get the black edge.
Here's a picture of the Heart of my Heart in our garden.
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Cindy
Southern California
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Charlie
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« Reply #2 on: December 19, 2008, 04:58:34 AM » |
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Yes, it's true that we have taken another look at solid reds in recent years. When I first started supplying Armstrong Garden Centers with new varieties of hibiscus back in the 90's they told me that reds were not popular because "everyone has been buying reds for decades and they want something different" or words to that effect. So, any reds we offered had spots or stripes and we stayed away from solid reds like the old fashioned ones named Brilliant and President.
However, some of the new hybrids such as Heart of My Heart have had such outstanding qualities and such deep, striking red color that we're working with them again to see what the possibilities are. As Cindy mentioned, reds that blacken in direct sun have been a problem with many solid reds but we've been able to avoid that in some of our newest. For instance, check out the brand new ones named 'Matador' and 'Dragon's Heart' that will be offered in 2009. Both are big, bold reds with interesting features that set them apart.
Dreamin' of new hibiscus in the shivering cold of a December morning...
Charlie
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roadrunner
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« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2009, 01:49:47 PM » |
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That is a beautiful red flower. It is so much nicer in every way than the generic unnamed red I bought from our local K Mart several years ago when I first started getting interested in hibiscus. I suppose the smaller bloom size is one reason I've resisted ordering Heart of My Heart. That, and limited space which I may have already exceeded since most of my plants are still rather small. I've also had my eye on another red shown in your Hibiscus Gallery named Velvet Illusion. Based on your description of it and the photos it seems to be an outstanding cultivar with a larger red flower than Heart of My Heart though I'm guessing not as bright in color. I've had it on my wish list for some time now but can't recall ever seeing it in the on line store. Are there any plans of offering it later this year?
Dave
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Charlie
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« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2009, 08:14:23 PM » |
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Hi Dave, thanks for the comments. Velvet Illusion is an opposite type when compared with Heart of My Heart. By that I mean the bloom is huge in size while HOMH is relatively small, and the Velvet Illusion bush is not well branched when compared to HOMH. I plan to get some Velvet Illusion going this year but somehow did not do so for the store opening. You can always send Cindy a "Waiting List" request for it which will help with letting you know when one is available. The color of Velvet Illusion is not a standard red. I don't know what the color would be called exactly, but it's quite spectacular.
Charlie
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helixturnhelix
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« Reply #5 on: June 02, 2009, 04:56:04 PM » |
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Hi Charlie, I noticed you mention that you will be releasing Dragons breath and Matador this year. I think I was too late to get them when the store opened. Do you know when you will have more in the store (or possibly at the open houses)  I am really enjoying the hibiscus I purchased last year, with all of them budding up now, and would love to add some more to my already crowded porch. |
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Charlie
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« Reply #6 on: June 02, 2009, 07:14:27 PM » |
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Hi Helix,
I'm glad to hear you are enjoying your hibiscus. Dragon's Breath and Matador are about to be put back in the store when new crops of both get ready in the coming weeks. Cindy will let those who are on the Waiting List for them know when they are available so that is the best way to find out when they are back again.
Charlie
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helixturnhelix
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« Reply #7 on: June 02, 2009, 09:16:28 PM » |
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Hi Charlie, I accidently wrote dragons breath but was thinking dragons heart! Do you know when this variety will be in stock again? I understand that dragons heart is an offspring of dragons breath, but is it as difficult to grow as dragons breath is? Thank you for your time |
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Charlie
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« Reply #8 on: June 03, 2009, 06:41:19 AM » |
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Well, Dragon's Heart so far seems to be both a better looking bush and easier to grow than Dragon's Breath. Until we have had a lot of them out with people and bring one home so we can watch them in non-greenhouse conditions we won't know for sure. I think the next group of young ones will be ready in late June or July. I like this one because it is not a black and red color but is a deep, dark red that varies some depending on temperature and season.
Charlie
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helixturnhelix
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« Reply #9 on: June 03, 2009, 03:40:28 PM » |
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Charlie I would be more than happy to help you experiment with this new variety! I will try to show up early enough to the next open house to grab one, gotta save money on shipping The color is really awesome, at least in the pictures, it reminds me of Black dragon, but with HOMH beautiful form. I have a HOMH in the yard and the only problem I have with it is I wish its flowers were bigger! found some great information on www.hibiscusforum.com |
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