Hibiscus hybridPagoda hibiscus or Chinese...

Hibiscus hybrid

Pagoda hibiscus or Chinese lantern hibiscus

Evergreen with weeping double flowers

Pagoda hibiscus, usually regarded as a collector’s plant, piques the interest of gardeners for its flowers, which hang in twos, one spilling out from the inside of the other. The bright-red blooms, variegated with white or yellow stripes, have a “weeping” habit, like hanging lanterns; hence the plant’s common name.

Although this hibiscus can be grown free-form or as a hedge, the flowers will seem lost in the foliage. They are best shown off if the plant is trained as a tree, reaching 6 to 8 feet. That way, the weeping branches and flowers can be enjoyed from underneath, grown either in the garden or in a large container on a patio. The flowers bloom from May through September.

Treat the pagoda hibiscus as you would any other hibiscus: location and well-drained soil are your main concerns. In half-day shade, the leaves will grow larger and the flowers will be more plentiful and retain their color better. Fertilizing is also important. Hibiscus are susceptible to cold weather and frost damage.

Pagoda hibiscus are not easy to find. The plant is said to have been brought to Southern California from Hawaii in 1975 by a local nurseryman.

Ask your nursery to order them from Takahashi Nursery Wholesale Grower, City of Commerce, (213) 721-2212. The tree-form types are sold in 5-gallon containers.