Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Fireball’ (Hardy Hibiscus)

Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Fireball’ (Hardy Hibiscus) is an intriguing bushy perennial noted for its abundant, velvety, bright red flowers. Blooming continuously from mid to late summer, the gigantic flowers, 10 in. across (25 cm), are adorned with a small, darker eye and conspicuous, protruding, creamy-white to pale yellow tubes of stamens. Each flower lasts about 1-2 days, but new flowers open each day in rapid succession until late in the season. But even without these gorgeous blooms, this plant is worth growing for the deeply dissected, maple-like leaves which emerge green, and mature to a luscious purple color, but they do need full sun to develop the color fully.

• Typically grows with an upright habit, up to 4-6 ft. tall (120-180 cm) and 2-3 ft. wide (60-90 cm).
• Thrives in full sun in average, medium to wet soils. Tolerates some light shade but best flower production and disease resistance occur in full sun. Tolerant to heat and humidity.
• Prefers consistently moist, organically rich soils. Keeping this hibiscus watered will result in larger flowers and lush foliage. 
• Site in locations protected from wind to minimize the risk of wind burn.
• Plant in perennial borders for dramatic summer blooms. Great along streams or ponds, in bog gardens, or in rain gardens.
• Keep an eye out for blight, canker, rust, leaf spots, aphids, scale, whiteflies, and Japanese beetle. Deer resistant.
• Deadhead spent flowers to maintain a neat appearance.
• Cut down in spring before new growth appears.
• It is best to plant Hibiscus in the garden before the heat of the summer arrives, and should be heavily mulched the first winter.
• Hibiscus moscheutos is native to marshes, swamps, moist meadows, and woods from Ontario and Massachusetts south to Ohio, Indiana, Alabama and Florida.