Alyogyne huegelii

 

  Blue Hibiscus

  Family: Malvaceae

  Origin: Australia

Hardiness: USDA Zones 9b and 10
Growth: Moderate growth to 8 feet
Form: Upright and open
Leaves: Deeply divided, rough textured, darked green
Flowers: 3 to 4 inch light to dark lavender to blue to purple
Exposure: Full sun preferred
Water: Low water needs
Soil: Well drained loam or sand best
Fertilizer: Light NPK in spring
Prune: Head back to keep it from getting rangy
Problems: Be sure to watch for aphids and scale

This is a very popular plant because of its vivid blue colored flowers. But it does take some care. It is necessary to prune to prevent it from becoming too thin and rangy. And it's very suseptible to scale and aphids. Don't be afraid to replace this plant every few years.

© 1997 by Jim Clatfelter.         Go to Garden California Home Page

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page