Hibiscus Summerific® 'Cookies and Cream'

Hibiscus Summerific® 'Cookies and Cream': Pure White Blooms Over Dark Leaves

Near-black leaves and bright white flowers. It's the dessert combo nobody can resist, minus the guilt and the crumbs in the couch. 'Cookies and Cream' is compact, sturdy and STRAIGHT FROM THE FREEZER AISLE OF YOUR DREAMS.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Hibiscus hybrid
• Common Name: Rose Mallow, Hardy Hibiscus
• Series: Summerific®, a Proven Winners® perennial
• Height: 75–90 cm (2.5–3 ft)
• Spread: 105–120 cm (3.5–4 ft)
• Flowers: Bright white, slightly cupped, 15–18 cm (6–7 in) across, with no red eye and a faint pink blush on the back of the petals
• Bloom Time: Midsummer to late summer (July to August)
• Foliage: Matte, near-black leaves that emerge dark in late spring
• Features: Compact and sturdy

Where to Plant: At under a metre tall, it fits toward the front or middle of a sunny border, in a foundation bed, or anywhere you want dark leaves for contrast. White flowers glow at dusk, which makes it a good choice near a patio. Full sun gives the darkest leaves.

Companion Plants: Plant 'Cookies and Cream' in a sunny, moist bed with dark iris, white obedient plant and white turtleheads. Acorus 'Oborozuki' edges the front with golden, grass-like blades at 25 to 30 cm. Iris 'Black Joker' opens deep purple Siberian iris at 48 to 50 cm in May and June. Physostegia 'Miss Manners' adds white spikes at 60 to 75 cm in July and August. Chelone 'Black Ace' brings white turtleheads over dark stems at 120 to 150 cm from August to October.

Plant Care: Pick a sunny spot with at least six hours of direct sun. Moist, fertile soil suits it best, and it handles heavy clay as long as the clay stays damp. Water deeply through dry stretches; this is not a plant that enjoys going thirsty. It sleeps in late. New shoots may not show until late May or even early June. Put a stake or label beside it so you don't dig into it by mistake. Each spring, before growth starts, cut last year's stems to about 15 cm (6 in). Pruners usually won't do it; use loppers or a small saw. Mulch well through the first winter. Leave the clump in place rather than dividing it. Hand-pick Japanese beetles if they show up.

History: Walters Gardens in Zeeland, Michigan, bred 'Cookies and Cream', which is more compact and sturdier than older hardy hibiscus, with an earlier and longer bloom. Hardy hibiscus are bred largely from Hibiscus moscheutos, the swamp rose mallow, a wetland wildflower of eastern North America that reaches its northern edge in the marshes of southwestern Ontario.

Final Thoughts: Full sun gives the darkest leaves. Plant two scoops by the patio and watch the bees ask for SECONDS.