Have you ever seen THIS hardy hibiscus before?

 One of my favorite cold hardy hibiscus is also my tallest! It's called Hibiscus"Raspberry Rose" and gets surprisingly HUGE. It's is a dieback perennial (unlike the non-native Rose of Sharon which has a tree form), but seems to get more than 6 feet tall with ease! 

The flowers have really unusual divided petals that give it a different look than most hibiscus. Apparently it's a cross between the Texas Star Hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) and something else, but your guess is as good as mine. It has MUCH larger leaves than a hibiscus coccineus, but the flowers do have a similar shape. 

The blooms start in August and keep on going until Frost so it's definitely a later bloomer, but worth it! 

Here's a timeline: 

Aug 8

Aug 10

August 13

My new plants from California!

I traveled to San Diego and stuffed a few fun and unusual plants in my suitcase to bring home! 

From left to right: 

Agave Ovatifolia, Plumeria Pink Jenny, Blue Australian Hibiscus (Alyogyne huegelii), Chamaedorea glaucifolia, Butia paraguayensis (Dwarf yatay palm), Hybrid Cycad (Cycas revoluta x debaoensis), Sabal rosei, Arenga engleri, Cycas debaoensis, Butia × Jubaea

Jungle Music Palms and Cycads was EPIC ... Phil and Rodrigo were so knowledgeable. I grew up visiting the website so visiting in person was just epic! 

A stop to Home Depot

Coffee with mom at Terra Bella Nursery

Staten Island Mid July Update

 We are midway through summer. Here's a snapshot at how everything is looking at my parents garden this week! 

My Aloe is blooming

We need to talk about this incredible hydrangea. It's a mini version called "Magical Revolution". This is year one but I am impressed! 

Sedum and Gaillardia (blanket flower)

x

Plumeria Jenny

Oleander

Trachycarpus - Windmill Palms

Hibiscus

Queen Palm

Bottle Palm 

Hedychium, Ti Plant Pink Diamond, and Dahlia Seattle 

Queen Palm, Cussonia, 

Canna bloom! 

Yellow Hibiscus 

Oakleaf hydrangea 

Mandevilla 

Gardenia Summer snow survives another winter! 

The blooms are so fragrant 

Bottle Palm