Light
Full sun. Less sun means fewer flowers and weaker stems.
Growing guide · Perennials
Hibiscus hybrid
How to grow Hardy Hibiscus 'Blackberry Merlot'.
Dinner-plate flowers in merlot red.
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- High
- Zones
- 4–9
- Size
- 4–4.5 ft tall, 3.5–4 ft wide
- Spacing
- 3–4 ft apart; give it room.
- Pets
- Not on the ASPCA pet-safe list; keep it out of reach
Water
Water deeply and often. It tolerates wet soil and sulks in drought.
Planting and soil
Plant in spring once soil is warm, crown at soil level, in rich soil with compost.
Feeding
A balanced slow-release feed in late spring.
Pruning
Cut dead stems to 4–6 in. in late fall or early spring.
Through the year
Doesn't emerge until late spring, often June. Blooms July–September. Each flower lasts a day, but there are a lot of them.
If something's off
Japanese beetles and sawflies chew the leaves; hand-pick or hose them off. Don't give up on it in May; it's just late.
Plays well with
Plant it with friends.
Why we stock it: Tropical-size flowers on a perennial that's hardy to zone 4.
About 25 native butterfly and moth species use Hibiscus as a host (Narango et al. 2020).
That's everything we know about growing it. Thanks for reading.
Know someone with the right spot? Send them this.
Hardy Hibiscus 'Blackberry Merlot'from $61.99 · Arrives alive, or we replace it
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What to plant this week in your zone, every Sunday. New ways to plant and odd tricks that actually work.
Sunday's tip is written for your zone: what to plant this week, and a kit that fits.Set your zone and Sunday's tip gets specific: what to plant this week, and a kit that fits.
Patio pot kit
Balcony Brag
Forty square feet, big opinions.
4 plants · $165.92In a pot, any zone
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Deer-resistant border kit
Deer Can't Even
Everything in it tastes terrible to deer.
12 plants · $392.88Zones 5–8
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Office kit
The Desk Set
Three small plants, one desk.
3 plants · $45Indoors, any zone
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Drought garden kit
The Hot, Dry Bank
For the slope the hose doesn't reach.
14 plants · $554.86Zones 5–9
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Mailbox garden kit
The Mailbox Bed
Curb appeal in one afternoon.
8 plants · $159.92Zones 3–10
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Pollinator garden kit
The Pollinator Buffet
Open seating for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
14 plants · $424.86Zones 4–9
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Shade garden kit
Shade Layers
For the spot the sun forgot.
8 plants · $151.92Zones 3–9
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Edible kit · plant this fall
The Snack Garden
Pick it, eat it, walk away.
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