Hibiscus Summerific® 'Edge of Night'

Hibiscus Summerific® 'Edge of Night': Bubblegum Pink Meets Goth Foliage

Near-black leaves with red veins, like it spent the night in a dark club and doesn't regret a thing. Then out pop bubblegum pink flowers, ALL INNOCENT, AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Hibiscus hybrid
• Common Name: Rose Mallow, Hardy Hibiscus
• Series: Summerific®, a Proven Winners® perennial
• Height: 90–105 cm (3–3.5 ft)
• Spread: 120–135 cm (4–4.5 ft)
• Flowers: Bubblegum pink with darker pink veins and overlapping petals, 18–20 cm (7–8 in) across
• Bloom Time: Midsummer to early fall (July to September)
• Foliage: Near-black leaves with red veins and stems, followed by green calyxes after the flowers
• Features: Long blooming
• Plant Patent: USPP 34,359

Where to Plant: The dark leaves make it a contrast plant from late spring on, so give it a front-row spot in the middle of a sunny border. Its compact height suits smaller yards and foundation beds. It's happy in moist ground, including rain gardens and damp clay.

Companion Plants: Phlox Super Ka-Pow™ Lavender fills the middle with lavender flowers from June through August at 45 to 50 cm. Chelone 'Black Ace' rises behind it to 120 to 150 cm and carries white flowers from August into October, and like the hibiscus it handles moist soil. Ceratostigma plumbaginoides creeps along the front at 20 to 30 cm with blue flowers from August into October. It is a sun to partial sun planting that peaks in late summer and holds on into fall.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun for the most flowers; part sun works, with fewer blooms. Give it moist, fertile soil and keep it watered. Hardy hibiscus wilt and drop buds when they dry out, so a deep soak during summer dry spells pays off. A layer of mulch helps hold moisture. It is one of the last perennials to wake up in spring, sometimes not until late May or early June. Mark the spot so nobody plants on top of it. Once it starts, it grows fast. In spring, before new growth appears, cut last year's woody stems back to about 15 cm (6 in) with loppers or a saw. Mulch heavily its first winter. It rarely needs dividing and prefers to stay put. Watch for Japanese beetles in July.

History: 'Edge of Night' was bred by Hans Hansen at Walters Gardens in Zeeland, Michigan, from a 2016 cross of a parent line mixing Hibiscus moscheutos and Hibiscus coccineus, and was patented in 2022. Swamp rose mallow (H. moscheutos) is a wetland wildflower of eastern North America, found as far north as southwestern Ontario.

Final Thoughts: Give it a sunny spot and it blooms on and on. The hummingbirds have made it their regular. LIVE A LITTLE ON THE EDGE.