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Hardiness: USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade
Bloom Color: Blue-Violet
Bloom Time: Mid Summer Late Summer/Early Fall
Foliage: Deciduous
Other details: This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds Flowers are fragrant Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season Flowers are good for cutting
Soil pH requirements: 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic) 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Propagation Methods: From woody stem cuttings From softwood cuttings From semi-hardwood cuttings From hardwood heel cuttings From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall From seed; sow indoors before last frost From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting: Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
On Aug 24, 2009, Anonany from Bray, Co Wicklow Ireland wrote:
The "regional" list only allows US zip codes, so this is just to let other Irish gardeners know that my 30+ year old plant grows very happily in Bray, Co Wicklow.
My garden is approximately 12 miles south of Dublin and 3 miles inland from the coast. The Hibiscus is planted on a south-facing hillside and gets plenty of shelter from surrounding trees and shrubs.
Last winter we got much heavier frosts than usual but -- perhaps because it's so well-established ? -- the plant continued to thrive and is now giving her usual display of fascinating flowers.
For those with small gardens, it would be well worth considering growing Blue Bird. She's slow-growing, has an upright habit and is easily pruned. Whilst slow to leaf in the Spring, the branches are very attractive in their own right, being silvery-grey-white.
I hope other Irish gardeners will find the above information helpful.
On Dec 1, 2007, maccionoadha from Halifax, MA (Zone 6a) wrote:
~ It takes 3 to 4 years to mature. It takes 10 to 20 days to germinate in 75 degree Fahrenheit, well-drained soil.
~ It is late-blooming, single blue blossoms with maroon throats. They are attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Diseases and pests that effect the plant are: Flower Bud Drop, Bacterial & Fungal Leaf Spot, Leaf Rust, Hollyhock Rust, Stem Canker, Cotton Root Rot, and Blight.
~ You can propagate them, by sowing the ripened seeds immediately or stored in a cool, dry place for 1 year. Lower branches can be soil layered. Take soft shoot cuttings in Spring or firm shoot cuttings in late Summer. They also respond to hardwood cuttings taken in Autumn. Prune established plants in early Spring by removing 1/3 of old wood. Young plants need protection in very cold regions.
On Jun 23, 2005, Kelly333 from Longview, TX wrote:
Slow growing, but healthy. Beautiful blooms. Can take the heat and humidity. Requires ample water the first year or two to get it started off right. Otherwise I'm afraid the heat would kill it.
On Jun 20, 2005, mariej from montreal Canada wrote:
Hi!
I live in Montreal, Canada and have two (although small, about 2 feet tall) version of this plant. And it grows and blooms!!! And believe me it's coooold out here!!! I never cover them in winter but I do cover their base with mulch as high as I can. I get a lot of flowers for their size. I would like to know how to propagate them cause in Montreal, Blue Birds are a rare find and if you do find them, their price is pretty high.
Thanks,
Marie
On Aug 12, 2002, lupinelover from Grove City, OH (Zone 6a) wrote:
Contrary to its name, the color is not true blue, but veers more toward pale lilac with some blue mixed in. Very beautiful, but not free-flowering unless full sun.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
San Jose, California San Leandro, California Mount Prospect, Illinois Greenville, Indiana Shawnee Mission, Kansas New Orleans, Louisiana Kennebunk, Maine Brookeville, Maryland Laurel, Maryland Halifax, Massachusetts Wayland, Massachusetts Grand Rapids, Michigan Ocean Springs, Mississippi Iselin, New Jersey Mount Laurel, New Jersey Alden, New York Southold, New York Hulbert, Oklahoma Salem, Oregon West Linn, Oregon Conway, South Carolina Greenville, South Carolina North Augusta, South Carolina Middleton, Tennessee Summertown, Tennessee Longview, Texas Navasota, Texas Weatherford, Texas Olympia, Washington Rochester, Washington
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