Lots of flowers are worth waiting a while for, but to me, none is more so than my hardy hibiscus. These flowers are the size of dinner plates.
They are one of the last things to sprout up in the spring. In fact, when I bought the plants, they came with a warning to not think they were dead and pull them up! They’ve been planted here about 5 years and were small at first and the second year the plants grew much larger and have remained that same size. From a few stems in the spring come plants that are 5′ across and 5′ tall. And once they get started growing, that all happens pretty quickly.
They are easy to care for. Once it’s cold and the plants have frozen, just cut the stems back to maybe 6″ tall. Once they’re established a couple years, the roots are pretty deep but you should still water them during very hot and dry spells. Other than that, all you have to do is wait in the spring, for this beautiful show of flowers to present itself.
These are hardy in my climate, which is very cold in the winter. If you go looking for some, make sure not to confuse them with regular hibiscus, which are pretty too, but the plants and flowers are much smaller, and they are not hardy outside in the cold. At the greenhouse or garden store, they will be able to help you make sure you get the right ones.
These are in front of my house, and many times when I’ve been out there, people have walked past or even stopped cars to say: What IS that? And where can I get some?
Sarasin's thoughts....... 
What a beautiful flower – the size and hardiness is very interesting. Your macro of this flower is fantastic! I love it. 😀
Thanks so much Jackie. Such a compliment from a photographer whose own macro is always amazing! I wait patiently for these flowers every year. The show will last about 2 weeks and probably include a hundred flowers on 2 plants. It’s beautiful.
I wonder if these are the same I make my tea and soda from? awesome
I didn’t think so, so I researched that. Here’s an article on the flowers you use for tea, and it’s a different kind of hibiscus. I’ve had that tea, and it’s good!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus_tea
thank you 🙂 it is really good
Funny I was thinking of growing hibiscus in my new garden to use as a blood pressure lowering tea, but I’m glad you did the research for me. I wonder if the ‘right kind’ can be grown as easily as what you grow? By the way, thanks for reading my blog faithfully.
I don’t know anything about that kind of hibiscus, except I agree it makes good tea. Thanks for visiting mine. I like to read yours cos you always have all kinds of neat ideas, and I’m also a frugal type, so new ideas about that are always good!
I love internet searches! Here, check this out from Mother Earth News, which I also love. You might be able to get away with it in Tennessee. http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/how-to-grow-hibiscus-zw0z11zsto.aspx#axzz2cbRWpF47