Hibiscus trionum
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Flower-of-an-Hour, Venice Mallow
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Exquisite - highly recommended! |
Type/Hardiness |
Annual, Hardy |
Flowering period |
July-September |
Height |
20in/50cm |
Light preference |
Full sun/part shade |
Soil preference |
Fertile, humus-rich, well-drained |
Sowing time/depth |
Spring (early inside, late outsi, |
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This delightful plant, which is usually treated as an annual in the UK, produces creamy flowers with dark burgundy centres on stems clothed with dark green, lobed leaves. Each flower only lasts a day but in the right conditions it will bloom profusely, followed by very attractive seed pods, throughout the summer months and into autumn. Highly recommended. |
Sowing and/or growing instructions |
Sow shallowly and singly in small modules in early spring, although darkness may aid germination, so consider covering the modules until the first seedlings appear. Harden off and move to their final positons when danger of frost is past. Can also be sown direct in late spring. Some sources recommend soaking the seed in hot - not boiling! - water for a couple of days, changing the water every 12 hours, nicking the seed coating and providing a temperature of 75-80F, but I have not found any of this to be necessary. |