Hardy Hibiscus, Rose Mallow, Swamp Mallow 'Blue River II'

Absolutely GORGEOUS plant. Saw one while on vacation in Cape Cod, MA, and transported it all the way to my home in SC, cold zone 8b, or r...Read Moreeally zone 9, because we are on an island. It disappeared in the winter, but I had put a stake next to it, so I would know it's location.
Came back in the spring (relatively late). I pinched it to make it bushier and it has developed in to a nice plant. Has huge, one foot, white blooms. Free flowering now, in July & August. One flower lights up the entire area. Spectacular at dusk, and can be seen from a great distance, as somebody mentioned. Absolutely is THE focal point in that area of the garden when it blooms!
Mine is in a relatively sunny area and gets some water from an irrigation system. Problem-free.
Love it so much I wanted to get more, but was not able to find any this summer, and boy, I have been scouring the internet.

Huge, spectacular white flowers, but prone to (seemingly constant) fungal leaf-spotting. Seems weird that a swamp plant would develop fu...Read Morengal problems from too much water... Mine completely died, or so I thought, after the Icepocalypse of 2014. (I live in southeast Louisiana; the temp. got down to about 19º.) But now, in early summer, it has sprouted back. I can't say I'm too thrilled about it, but we'll see if it does better this time around. I also found one adorable little seedling a few feet away from it.

I like it! bought two on ebay as 4" plants this spring. They are close to 2 ft tall and have had a few blooms. Beautiful, big, all whi...Read Morete, and delicate. I look forward to future years when it becomes a fuller plant. Mine are inground, 6-7 hrs of sun.

July 2008. My plants died to the ground but came back in early spring. Shrubs are presently about 4' x 4' and some of the flowers are about 9" in diameter. What a spectacular hardy hibiscus! I read it likes moist environment, but mine is not planted in a particularly wet area. This plant gets A+

June 2014: dead. I think excessive watering

JULY 2023: trying again as this is a stunning plant. Found seeds on ETSY, harvested in 2020 or 2921. I decided to try growing from seeds as not found in my area as plant. As of 7/11, seeds have germinated. The challenge will be to keep them alive. I may have to keep potted until next year when I’ll plant outdoors i ground.

OCTOBER 2923: seedling died.

When I bought this plant it was dying/liquidated for $3. Hardy hibiscus was unknown to me, all I know is the picture on the container lo...Read Moreoked beautiful - I put it on the ground beginning of Fall 2004. Summer 2005 I couldn't be outside in the garden - every single passerby wanted to know what it was. "never seen anything like it..." me neither. I had no choice in August to move it I saw that it could be divided - I divided it - I have 3 of them now, plus seeds for Summer 2006.
Even after division they were blooming and seeding.
I LOVE THIS PLANT.