Hibiscus' Blue Bird

ℹ The dramatic flowers on Blue Bird Hibiscus have to be seen to be believed. Your neighbors are sure to think you've spray-painted them, because they simply don't look real! Although it was introduced in 1958, Blue Bird Hibiscus is still considered the industry standard among blue-flowering hibiscus shrubs. But don't take our word for it -- because of its enduring qualities and longstanding performance, Blue Bird Hibiscus is a recipient of the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Although it looks like a tropical plant more suited to warm climates, Blue Bird is a cold-hardy perennial shrub that can withstand sub-zero winter temperatures in Zones 5 through 9. As if the boisterous blue color of its flowers doesn't provide enough eye candy for your garden, each Blue Bird blossom is accented with a flaming-red center! In the landscape-design world, a "specimen plant" is one that provides a focal point because of its uncommon or outstanding characteristics -- two criteria that Blue Bird Hibiscus certainly fulfills!
One shrub commands attention, but a row of these shrubs provides a riot of color in summer. You may recognize this Hibiscus by its other common names -- Shrub Althea or Rose-of-Sharon. Long-time gardeners have a special fondness for this long-lived heirloom, which has historically been a mainstay on old homesteads and in cottage gardens. So if you have a tendency toward nostalgia, or if you're irresistibly drawn to the sumptuous color of Blue Bird Hibiscus flowers, you'll want to put this plant on your must-have list!