San Marcos Hibiscus, A toughy for the arid landscape

San Marcos Hibiscus

Lush, dark-green, heart-shaped leaves are evergreen on this rounded shrub in the mallow or hibiscus family (Malvaceae). It reaches 1.3 meters (4 feet) tall and wide in well watered situations and loves south walls that keep it warm in the winter. Yellow hibiscus flowers with red spots at the base of each petal bloom October through May although flowering can occur during the entire summer, especially if the winter has not been mild. From Baja California. Plants are hardy to about 28 degrees F. Plants can take some freezing and often grow back quickly from frost damage provided they are being watered correctly and fed once in a while. Provide good drainage if your soil is a bit on the clay side.

Full sun is preferred though plants can look just fine in part shade. Container growth is tough on this and other Gossypium species. When in nurseries plants may look a little under the weather. However they will rebound when put in the ground where their roots can spread out a bit. Not often in the trade enough, San Marcos Hibiscus could be pushed a little more. It is in the same genus as cotton though it does not yeild more than just a little fuzz on the seeds.

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