Hibiscus (Rose Mallow)
Color Name: Midnight Marvel
Midnight Marvel earns its name with every leaf and flower it sets! This Hardy Hibiscus is a standout in any setting with its dark purple foliage. After a brilliant purple show in spring and summer, the leaves turn a fiery orange for fall! But the foliage is just part of its glory. It also sets huge, deep red blooms from midsummer until frost, simply covering itself in color for 3 months or more each year! The handsome, maple-shaped leaves on this fast-growing Rose Mallow reach nearly a foot long, and are very abundantly borne on this well-branched, imposing perennial, which reaches 5 feet high and 6 feet wide. Absolutely show-stopping, they make Midnight Marvel an excellent choice for a specimen as well as a hedge, accent planting, or border standout. And the color refuses to green out in summer, even in fiery heat.
By midsummer the plant is studded with long, elegantly twisted buds, which open to beautifully veined carmine-red blooms 9 to 10 inches wide. A true red Hibiscus is a rarity, and Midnight Marvel offers a dark, pleasing shade of crimson that sets it apart from all others.
The flowers continue until the first hard frost, recovering nicely from those light frosts that dot autumn nights in many areas.
With the first run of cooler fall weather, the foliage turns brilliant shades of orange, remaining on the plant for many weeks before dropping. This adds a whole new dimension to the color palette, the red blooms combining boldly with the orange leaves. Talk about fall color!
Growing Tips: Hibiscus love the sun and need moist, well-drained soil. Keeping these plants watered will result in larger flowers and lush foliage. Deadheading will improve the appearance of the plant. It is best to plant Hibiscus in the garden before the heat of the summer arrives, and should be heavily mulched the first winter. In spring, cut back any remaining stems before new growth appears. A strong pair of loppers or a saw will be necessary to cut this plant back. Be advised that Hibiscus is always one of the last perennials to emerge in spring. Its vigorous growth rate more than makes up for this late start, however. Japanese beetles find these plants especially delicious.
Photo courtesy of Walters Garden Inc.
Midnight Marvel earns its name with every leaf and flower it sets! This Hardy Hibiscus is a standout in any setting with its dark purple foliage. After a brilliant purple show in spring and summer, the leaves turn a fiery orange for fall! But the foliage is just part of its glory. It also sets huge, deep red blooms from midsummer until frost, simply covering itself in color for 3 months or more each year! The handsome, maple-shaped leaves on this fast-growing Rose Mallow reach nearly a foot long, and are very abundantly borne on this well-branched, imposing perennial, which reaches 5 feet high and 6 feet wide. Absolutely show-stopping, they make Midnight Marvel an excellent choice for a specimen as well as a hedge, accent planting, or border standout. And the color refuses to green out in summer, even in fiery heat.
By midsummer the plant is studded with long, elegantly twisted buds, which open to beautifully veined carmine-red blooms 9 to 10 inches wide. A true red Hibiscus is a rarity, and Midnight Marvel offers a dark, pleasing shade of crimson that sets it apart from all others.
The flowers continue until the first hard frost, recovering nicely from those light frosts that dot autumn nights in many areas.
With the first run of cooler fall weather, the foliage turns brilliant shades of orange, remaining on the plant for many weeks before dropping. This adds a whole new dimension to the color palette, the red blooms combining boldly with the orange leaves. Talk about fall color!
Growing Tips: Hibiscus love the sun and need moist, well-drained soil. Keeping these plants watered will result in larger flowers and lush foliage. Deadheading will improve the appearance of the plant. It is best to plant Hibiscus in the garden before the heat of the summer arrives, and should be heavily mulched the first winter. In spring, cut back any remaining stems before new growth appears. A strong pair of loppers or a saw will be necessary to cut this plant back. Be advised that Hibiscus is always one of the last perennials to emerge in spring. Its vigorous growth rate more than makes up for this late start, however. Japanese beetles find these plants especially delicious.
Photo courtesy of Walters Garden Inc.
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Flower Color: Red Shades Foliage Color: Purple Shades
Height: 4 to 5 Feet Spread: 4 to 5 Feet Hardy in Zone: 5, 4, 6 |
Blooms: Summer to Fall
Foliage Season: All Season |
Exposure
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Soil Moisture Needs
Moderate
Moist
Attributes |
 Extended Bloomer  Native Easy to Grow Landscapes Water's Edge Specimen Plant Mass Planting Colorful Foliage Border
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Attracts
Hummingbirds
Critter Resistance
Deer
