Would I be accused of being non-patriotic if I do not have a Bunga Raya (Hibiscus) in my garden? After all the Bunga Raya (single petal Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ) is our national flower. There are many species, varieties and hybrids of Hibiscus. In my collection I have only a red and a pink hibiscus, both are of the double petals rosa sinensis variety. Take a look.
This red one is my earliest recollection of what a hibiscus is. There were about three of four bushes of this hibiscus planted along the driveway to our old house, as were the Peacock Shrubs. They were very old plants. I took a cutting from a neighbor who has this red hibiscus sometime last December (2009). The cuttings take root easily. I have three cuttings that I planted on the same spot. I hope to grow a bush They are growing well but slow, perhaps the location where I planted them is not so friendly, more exposed to the hot sun. They started blooming rather fast, which is surprising.
Below is how my red hibiscus looks like after 10 months of growth. Soon I might prune them so they will grow bushy and compact, but it seems such a shame to disturb them now.
The following are pictures of my pink hibiscus. The pink hibiscus grow faster, but are more susceptible to mealy bugs. I got to constantly watch out for these pests, pick them off the plant whenever I see clusters of them, as I dislike spraying chemicals. I like the pink hibiscus very much and have planted them in 3 various locations.
The buds.
While the red hibiscus leaves are more pointy and narrow, the pink ones are more broad and less serration. Hibiscus flowers are rather showy, being so big. The downside is they only bloom for a day. However the blooms are all year round. There are blooms almost daily once they are established.
Maybe I should collect more varieties of hibiscus to grow in my garden, after all they are so easy to care for and grow well in our climate.
Below is how my red hibiscus looks like after 10 months of growth. Soon I might prune them so they will grow bushy and compact, but it seems such a shame to disturb them now.
The following are pictures of my pink hibiscus. The pink hibiscus grow faster, but are more susceptible to mealy bugs. I got to constantly watch out for these pests, pick them off the plant whenever I see clusters of them, as I dislike spraying chemicals. I like the pink hibiscus very much and have planted them in 3 various locations.
While the red hibiscus leaves are more pointy and narrow, the pink ones are more broad and less serration. Hibiscus flowers are rather showy, being so big. The downside is they only bloom for a day. However the blooms are all year round. There are blooms almost daily once they are established.
Maybe I should collect more varieties of hibiscus to grow in my garden, after all they are so easy to care for and grow well in our climate.
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