The variegated hardy hibiscus, H. ‘Summer Carnival’ has looked outstanding all summer. This Hans Hansen creation has both variegated leaves and flower buds. We’ve had these in the garden since 2017, and they continue to excel. Moist to wet soils and full sun are ideal, but they handle short term drought just fine. Hardiness is Zone 4a-9b.
Very attractive! How often do you see both the leaves and the sepals of a plant being variegated? Would this imply two mutations, one for the leaf and one for the sepals? Thank you, your daily e-mails are always beautiful and informative.
This variegation type is a chimera and many of these actually run through the leaves and flowers. Streaked leaf hosta for example, have both variegated leaves and flowers.
The leaves on this seem more finely textured compared to “Hibiscus mutabilis ‘Gold Splash’.” Is Hans working on crossing Summer Carnival with Gold Splash?
Since H. mutabilis is a Zone 7b/8a plant, it is almost never use in breeding where winter hardiness is a prime concern.
But wouldn’t Summer Carnival possibly impart better winter hardiness to such a cross?
When your goals are compact, well branched plants with maximum winter hardiness and early flowering times, using a tree-like species with no flowers before late October, and a Zone 7b/8a winter hardiness would take you completely in the wrong direction. A breeding program in the deep south, however, could indeed benefit from such a cross, but only if H. moschetus and H. mutabilis would easily cross, which they will not.
Mutabilis doesn’t bloom until October? My Gold Splash has been blooming since July.
Then, it’s not H. mutabilis