This Tropical Treasure Will Have You Seeing Red

You'll want to find a prominent spot in your garden to show off President's Red Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'President's Red'). This plant truly commands attention because of its bold, vivid, showy flowers, which add a tropical touch to any landscape design. And if you want to make a dramatic impact statement with a container plant, President's Red Hibiscus is a winner!

No Shrinking Violet Here
Talk about bang for your buck. Breathtaking flowers, lustrous foliage, and a surprising wildlife benefit will triple your enjoyment of this plant.

1. Flowers. Deep-red and huge '– up to 4 inches across! President's Red Hibiscus is specifically bred to have more profuse blooms than other hibiscus selections.

2. Evergreen. This is a striking plant even when it's not in bloom because of its lustrous, deep-green leaves.

3. Hummingbirds and butterflies. These tiny nectar-sippers will zero in on the irresistible flowers that keep blooming all season long.

Garden Uses/Design Tips
Native to Tropical Asia, President's Red Hibiscus is a perennial only in the warm climates of U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 9-11. But if you're outside this limited hardiness zone, don't despair '– you can still grow it year-round as a container plant! It'll enjoy summers outside and winters inside. Outside, it grows and flowers best in full sun; and inside, it'll prosper in a sunroom or a bright-light location. As a tropical plant, President's Red Hibiscus loves moist soil, so you may need to water it more often than other plants to make sure the soil doesn't dry out. And if you'll apply a slow-release fertilizer in spring '– just as the new growth is emerging '– it'll boost the "bloom power" for a spectacular show!

Winter Care
President's Red Hibiscus is a little sensitive to change, so if you bring your plant indoors for the winter, it may drop some of its leaves as it adjusts to a different environment. Don't overwater it; just keep the soil slightly moist, and don't fertilize it during the winter. Before you set your plant back outside in spring, give it a little trim by cutting the stems back to about half their length. The new growth will really take off in warm weather, and migrating hummingbirds will once again flock to their "natural bird feeder!"