James Burghardt
Family
Malvaceae
Botanical Name
HIBISCUS rosa-sinensis 'Sunshower'
Plant Common Name
Queen-of-the-tropics., Sunshower Hibiscus, Tropical Hibiscus
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
The tropical hibiscus 'Sunshower' dazzles with scarlet blossoms with mottled stripes of yellow. Each round and ruffled, crinkly, slightly overlapping petal opens wide and often recurves downward. There are streaks, stripes or blotches of bright yellow at the petal outer edges, with hints of orange-red. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is an evergreen shrub that originates from China, and 'Sunshower' is a hybrid derived from two cultivated varieties. This tropical hibiscus is vigorous and blooms well over an extended period of time.
The glossy leaves of 'Sunshower' are bright green or yellow-green and broadly oval to heart-shaped. The flowers are large, radial and broad and have much more amounts of yellow when they develop in sunshine (on non-cloudy days), and more uniformly red during overcast weather. In the dark pinkish red center there is a long red floral column with a bottlebrush of yellow stamens and dark red stigmas.
Tropical hibiscus is heat tolerant, excelling in full to partial sun and acidic to neutral, fertile soil with good drainage. Very poor and alkaline soils lead to nutrient deficiencies. Remove spent flowers' developing green seed capsules to promote continual production of new blossoms. Tropical hibiscus is a garden staple in both tropical and temperate landscapes. This vibrant, round-habit cultivar can be grown in sunny mixed borders or foundation beds, as an informal hedge or in large containers that can be moved indoors to overwinter if needed. The short floral stem can be cut and placed in water to enjoy the open flower for one day.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
10 - 15
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Shrub
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
5'-7' / 1.5m - 2.1m
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Width
4'-6' / 1.2m - 1.8m
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Bloom Time
Indeterminate
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Native To
Hybrid Origin, China
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Smooth
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Usage
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Attracts
Butterflies
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Self-Sowing
No
