Snowflake Hibiscus

This is one great plant. It has variegated leaves that light up this spot when it’s shaded and they’re not variegated like normal, in that yellow and green way. They’re white and green so they really shine.

I had two of these that I bought when I was selling my previous home. What was supposed to happen was that they would be planted in the ground to fill the space where my big birds nest fern had been. I dug the birds nest fern up for two reasons, one, so I could bring it with me, and two, because it was difficult to open the back door because it was so big. After looking at the plants for a couple of days I decided I was going to keep them as well, so they didn’t ever get planted. Hey, the house sold eventually.

The other one died, not because it’s too delicate, it’s a hibiscus so it’s tough. I originally had it planted in a spot that was too shaded and so I decided to move it into a better spot, and *hey presto!* it up and died over the summer in spite of my best efforts. I’ve seen them around in nurseries and bought another one a couple of years ago under a slightly different name.

It has red hibiscus flowers that last only one day. And being a hibiscus it’s deciduous as well, dropping its leaves in late winter. It’s supposed to grow to about 1.5 metres (5 feet) high but it’s been pretty slow and after 7 years it’s about 1.2 metres (4 feet) high.