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You are here: Home / MG Questions Answered / Hibiscus

Hibiscus

April 15, 2022

Hello!! I have several ‘late blooming’ perennials – but especially Hibiscus moscheutos “swamp Mallows” – which are in their third or fourth year here – root hardy and which grow well all summer long. Then – JUST as the buds are about to begin opening – they are killed by an early frost. Sometimes I can save them with a sheet and a prayer – but not always. I tried LAST spring to try and ‘cheat’ by warming the soil around these crowns with cloches and seeing if I could trick the plants into starting up a few weeks early. Hard to say if I was successful or not. Is there any ‘trick’ I can try this year to help these late bloomers get an earlier start, and maybe save their September flowers from Frost? Any suggestions will be much appreciated!

Answer
In our region it is very difficult to enjoy the blooms on the late blooming perennials. We can have frosts in June and also early September. The weather is so unpredictable. A suggestion for your Hibiscus moscheutos “swamp Mallows is to put wood ashes around the plants as they do enjoy a more alkaline soil. This may help with getting the plant to start a little earlier. Other choices of perennials that may be a better choice are Marsh marigolds , cardinal Flower or Lobelia cardinals. They are more suited to our climate.
Thanks for your question

coordinator@haliburtonmastergardener.ca

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