Summerific® 'Cookies and Cream' Perennial Hibiscus
Perennial
- Matte black foliage contrasts delicate white flowers.
- Cold-hardy hibiscus, virtually maintenance-free!
- Blooms earlier & longer than other perennial hibiscus varieties.
- Native perennial loved by hummingbirds & other pollinators.
- Zones 4-9, sun/part sun, up to 3' tall x 4' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Summerific® hibiscus from Proven Winners are herbaceous perennials, so unlike their close cousin Rose of Sharon, they die back to the ground in fall and begin each year fresh in spring. They are one of the latest perennials to emerge in spring, but watching them transform from tiny stems to big, healthy plants in a matter of weeks is nothing short of delightful. These are great plants for beginners – or anyone, really!
Details
Common name: Perennial hibiscus, hardy hibiscus, swamp mallow, rose mallow, dinner plate hibiscus
Zone: 4 - 9
Sun exposure: Full sun (> 6 hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 2.5-3' tall and 3.5-4' wide
Flower color: White
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Summer
Bloom time: Midsummer, late summer Features: Rain gardens, cottage garden, Proven Winners, heat tolerant, deer resistant, cold tolerant, attracts pollinators
Uses: Flower gardens, landscaping, specimen, flowering hedge
How to Grow
Light: Full sun (> 6 hours sun) is best.
Water: Average to high.
Space: 2.5-3 feet
Fertilizing: Fertilize in early spring, once the ground has thawed, with a granular rose fertilizer.
Winterizing: No special treatment is required; Stems can be cut off once the plant has gone dormant in late autumn as they do not add any considerable interest. 2-3" of mulch is recommended.
Maintenance: Little needed. Perennial hibiscus is one of the very last plants to emerge each spring. Be patient! Once they begin to show buds, they will start to grow quickly.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
