More colors sought for winter-hardy hibiscus

Commercializing non-traditional or under-utilized crops that have drought tolerance is the goal of Texas researchers. Texas AgriLife Research plant physiologist Dariusz Malinowski, along with co-worker William Pinchak and Steve Brown, program director of the Texas Foundation Seed Service, has been breeding low-maintenance, winter-hardy hibiscus plants in a variety of colors. The plants require little water once they’re established in the landscape and have little disease or insect pressure.

Since the flower color range for commercial cultivars is limited to white, red and pink, the researchers have developed more colors, including lavender, burgundy, plum, and shades of fuchsia and pink. Other plant characteristics being incorporated into the new cultivars are flowers with contrasting colored eyes, large size flowers (11- to 12-inch diameter) and dark colored leaves. Malinowski has also produced one plant with maroon leaves and dark stems. One color that has eluded Malinowski is a blue flower.

The new cultivars being developed should be commercially available in 2-3 years. Malinoswski said the plants can be grown from south central Texas to Canada as long as the required winter period is long enough for them to go dormant after the first frost.