I've grown this hybrid for two seasons here in eastern Massachusetts Z6a. The maroon-tinted foliage complements the flowers and adds colo...Read Morer to the garden when this plant is out of bloom. I also like the deeply cut foliage, which gives it a lighter effect than Hibiscus moscheutos.
Like all these hardy herbaceous hibiscus, it is very late to emerge from dormancy in the spring. Even knowing this, I almost gave this plant up for dead this spring.
This is best planted in the spring. In my experience, herbaceous hibiscus need hot weather to establish, and I've had a lot of failures with them here after planting them late in the season (August or later).
I'm growing it where it shares real estate with a bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis). So far, they've gotten along well together. I cut back the bleeding heart when the hibiscus gets going.
USPP24079, 2013. According to the patent, it was hybridized by Kevin Hurd.
Canton--Football HOF, OH (Zone 6a) | September 2014 | positive
I've had this beauty for 2 years and it's just spectacular in the garden! I don't like masses of solid plantings, and this shrub is quite...Read More "lacy", so it gives the garden a sort of translucent quality, while remaining a focal point of the garden.
'Midnight Marvel' is happy in partial shade (Mine gets morning to early afternoon sun) and in a good, moisture-retaining, rich soil (We have clay, so I've amended with peat moss) and a thick layer of mulch to keep the roots as moist as possible during periods of drought. Supplemental watering is recommended during periods of drought.
Here in N.E. Ohio, 'Midnight Marvel' blooms in mid August, and it's definitely worth the wait!.......It attracts hummingbirds, too!
I gave up on dark leaf cannas because all store bought cannas carry virus. I tried dark leaf dahlias but found that the plants would bec...Read Moreome too scraggly over time and require more maintenance. This is a good replacement for bold foliage and flowers. The flowers are the same exact as on Cranberry Crush but the leaves are more like that on Kopper King or Summer Storm but darker. The leaf midrib carries some reddish color. Its dramatic enough to impress those that appreciate bold colors and tropical feel.
I've grown this hybrid for two seasons here in eastern Massachusetts Z6a. The maroon-tinted foliage complements the flowers and adds colo...Read More
I've had this beauty for 2 years and it's just spectacular in the garden! I don't like masses of solid plantings, and this shrub is quite...Read More
I gave up on dark leaf cannas because all store bought cannas carry virus. I tried dark leaf dahlias but found that the plants would bec...Read More