Tuesday, July 10, 2012

It's Blooming!

The Texas Star Hibiscus is now in bloom!!  You can see the tons of buds on it, but only a few flowers seem to open at the same time.  And of course, true to form-the flowers are only open for one day.   Bummer...but another bud will open the next day so I always have flowers-I just wish the whole plant would be covered in red one day!  Here is some information on this plant:

"A Texas Native, Texas Star Hibiscus  (Hibiscus coccineaus) is a tall, slender perennial Hibiscus that produces large bright red, 5 petal flowers from summer until fall. The foliage has large 5 fingered palmate leaves with serrated lobes.  Texas Star Hibiscus can grow to 6 feet tall and is adaptable to many soil types as long as it has ample moisture, and it is often found in bog areas and in Texas wetlands. Texas Star Hibiscus blooms on new growth and can be cut back after flowering to maintain size and encourage new bloom, and after first freeze cut back to the ground. It is a great plant to attract ruby throated hummingbirds, bees, and birds to your yard and works great around ponds and bogs. "   If you remember, I actually had this plant in my pond, but it was just way too tall for my little pond-so I put it in a deep container and set it in a corner of the back flower bed.  In this heat, I do have to keep it watered..but oh the reward with those blooms!
A Texas Star......indeed!