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Hibiscus > Hibiscus: Red Shield, Striking Red-Purple Leaves, Hibiscus acetosella Seeds

Hibiscus: Red Shield, Striking Red-Purple Leaves, Hibiscus acetosella Seeds

SOLD OUT FOR 2010. Free Shipping. 24+ Seeds. This vigorous bush has leaves that are a redish-purple color in full sun, making a striking specimen plant or border plant! When not in bloom, passersby often think they are Japanese Maple. Fast growing annual hibscus makes a wonderful specimen plant or border hedge.

$ 3.00 This product is currently out of stock. Email me at onalee@aol.com for more info Back

24+ Red Shield Hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella) seeds PLUS planting instructions, including a color photo for seedling id. (Other common names: Red-Leaf Hibiscus, African Rose Mallow)

There seems to be a lot of confusion regarding "Red Shield" hibiscus. I have read that they bloom all season to frost and I've read that they bloom only in the fall/winter. I've also read on some sites that they have red flowers while others say they have pink flowers. I think that many times the Red Shield hisbiscus and the False Roselle hibiscus are getting confused.

The seeds I'm offering here are some that I purchased from a wholesaler. I am growing them out this year (2009) so that I can see what the real story is regarding the blooms and I will post that as soon as I know for certain (the wholesaler described them as having red blooms, but didn't say what time of year they bloomed). **** UPDATE: These are now blooming and they have the dark pink blooms, exactly like the False Roselle, so don't buy both the False Roselle and these, you'll get the same flowers. I will do more research to try and find the red flowered version of this plant.***

What is CLEAR and CONSISTENT amoung all sellers offering these seeds is the dark purple-red, deeply lobed leaves that resemble the colors of a Japanese Maple.

These are vigorous bushes growing large in just one season with leaves that are a redish-purple color in full sun, making a striking specimen plant or border plant! In the shade, the leaves are a deep green with redish-purple veins.

These hibiscus will easily reach a height of 5’-6' in one season and bloom the first year they are planted. You may keep them trimmed back into a hedge or let them grow tall. I suggest trimming them at least a couple of times during they growing season to make them bush out more.

These are listed as a perennial in zones 9b-11, an annual in colder zones. They prefer full sun and sandy soil (but will grow in the shade - you just won't have the deep color).