Hibiscus x Summerific® 'BERRY AWESOME' swamp mallow, hardy hibiscus
size/type
tall perennial,tall perennial
usual height
1,3-1,5m
usual width
1,5-1,8m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
August-October
location
full sun
USDA zone (lowest)
4 (down to -34°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Swamp mallow (rose mallow) and its hybrids have been sought after plants for the past few years now. They are perennials with sturdy stems that bear large, tropically looking flowers. American company Proven Winner® are renowned for selecting plants of reliable garden performance, and in 2017 introduced their new series of these hardy hibiscus composed of several different varieties bred by various breeders. It is called Summerific®® and so far (by 2018) it includes these varieties: Cherry Cheesecake, Berry Awesome, Cranberry Crush, and Perfect Storm.
Description of the plant:
Berry Awesome is a really awesome swamp mallow with its uniquely coloured flowers. Imagine picking up a mixture of forest berries, and make a smoothie out of them which is softened with a portion of cream. Sounds tasty and sweet? Just like this dishy hibiscus, pity it is not edible. The flowers are almost 20 cm across with somewhat wavy petal margins, and decorated with a rich red eye, a long pistil with numerous light beige anthers and a purple pink stigma. Flowering begins in August and depending on plant's age and fertilizing new flower buds can be formed till September or October. Deciduous leaves are deep green, red-veined, 3-lobed with longs tips, and in autumn turn amber orange and yellow. Stalks and stems are red, too. The plant grows fast, almost 1.5m tall and a little more wide in maturity (10 years), the number of flowering stems multiplies each year, and overall it looks like a shrub though it is a herbaceous perennial.
Berry Awesome hibiscus was bred by Hans A.Hansen, an American breeder of hardy hibiscus and other perennials, and the director of new plant development at Walters Gardens nursery in Zeeland, Michigan. It is a cross between Crown Jewels and Cranberry Crush made in 2011, and patented as PP 27936 in 2017.
Swamp mallow and its hybrids are commonly suited for regular garden soil of any pH, just make sure it does not dry out. In hot and dry summers it is dependent on regular watering and feed supply. Use fertilizers with enough phosphorus for abundant flowering, or any other quick-release fertilizers where nitrogen is not predominant. Any fertilizing has to stop by end September. Still, nitrogen-based fertilizer is useful when the plant wakes up from dormancy in mid spring, but should not be used longer than 8 weeks. Hardy hibiscus emerges very late, sometimes as late as in late May.
For healthy growth and profuse flowering it needs a sunny location with a lot of moisture which can be achieved by good mulching. The soil has to be fertile and can be clay and boggy, never let it dry out either in summer or during dry winters - its fleshy roots need some moisture also in winter. Hardy to about -34°C (USDA zone 4). Protect the bottom of the stems from direct sunlight with plenty of mulch during winter. Cut back the plant some 7 cm above ground level in spring after all frosts.
Last update 09-09-2018
