Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Robert Fleming’ (Hardy Hibiscus)

Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Robert Fleming’ (Hardy Hibiscus) is a vigorous and compact perennial noted for its abundant, velvety, rich red flowers. Blooming continuously from mid to late summer, the gigantic flowers, 10 in. across (25 cm), are adorned with 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. The foliage of broadly ovate, dark green leaves is whitish beneath.

• Typically grows with an upright habit, up to 2-3 ft. tall and 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 of 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.