When I saw this flower growing in Melody McMahon's garden in San Antonio she promised me some cuttings. I met up with her last summer at the Texas Hill Country Olive ranch where she passed on a couple of those cuttings. I was delighted when they survived the winter indoors. I repotted them in late winter and a few weeks ago I noticed what appeared to be a baby flower bud. Yesterday the bloom opened and I was there to photograph it.
The flower is a member of the hibiscus family,
Hibiscus schizopetalus, known more commonly as coral hibiscus, Japanese lantern and native to tropical East Africa. The lacy flowers, which hang from a long pedicet, are deeply pinnately lobed and curve backwards to expose the stamens.
The bloom was short lived and today had fallen off. So glad I caught this beautiful bloom and hope the summer will bring many more.
So pretty! It's worth growing, even if the flowers are short-lived.
ReplyDeleteSo glad yours made it through the winter Jenny! Mine had grown too large to drag inside so it was covered with N-sulate but still didn't make it. My friend, Cheryl, calls sharing plants "plant insurance" because you never know when you'll need a cutting back! Enjoy the one-day flowers, you'll have them all summer if lucky.
ReplyDeleteI was really amazed that it bloomed in such a short period of time. Cheryl is right. I have the second pot so if you ever want one back then you can have it.
DeleteThanks Jenny. I've had those hibiscus for so many years and I'm ready to try something new. I'm running out of room and sunny spots!
DeleteBye the way, your blog post today is beautiful! Your flowers are lasting much longer than in my garden. We haven't had the rains and the heat has set in. Summer is here!
Lovely!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful. That bloom looks like some sort of exotic bird in flight and just like an elusive bird, it flew away far too soon. Glad you grabbed your camera when you did!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I love hibiscus with drooping blooms like that. Such a striking bloom, too, with the feathered petals like that!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful...
ReplyDelete