The Hibiscus Revolution

A medley of the best hibiscus. Author’s photographs
Charles Black's fascination with hibiscus began while he lived in Hawaii, where he had developed skills in the propagation of tropical plants. He began an evaluation program to select cultivars offering the best flowers and the sturdiest growth habit. He then perfected a unique hibiscus grafting method that improves plant performance and simplifies their production. His Hidden Valley Hibiscus, Inc, is now the largest producer of exotic hibiscus, shipping over 50,000 plants to commercial growers for distribution throughout the United States and beyond. He shares with us the recent history of hibiscus, the problems associated with many available cultivars, and his own recommendations for the best of the best.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, commonly called Chinese or tropical hibiscus, has the unusual distinction of being a “manmade” plant. Although the genus Hibiscus includes hundreds of species found in tropical and temperate climates, most bear little or no resemblance to cultivated forms of H. rosa-sinensis, the most popular plant in the genus. The flowering plant...