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Mars Madness Hardy Hibiscus

Hibiscus 'Mars Madness' PP27838

Regular price $5237
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Delivery and Shipping

Delivery and Shipping

Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50 $9.99
$50 - $99.99 $14.99
$100 - $149.99 $16.99
$150 - $198.99 $24.99
$199+ FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Plant Profile & Growing Essentials

Cold hardy, Fast-growing, Flowering, Clay Tolerant, Wet Soils, Heat Tolerant, Attracts pollinators, Container Friendly, and Non-invasive

Specifications

  • Botanical Name
    Hibiscus 'Mars Madness' PP27838
  • Height
    4 ft
  • Width
    6 ft
  • Growing Zones
    4-9
  • Sunlight
    • Full sun
    • Partial shade
  • Growth Rate
    Moderate
  • Flower Color
    • Red
    • Pink
  • Leaf Color
    • Purple
    • Bronze
  • Fall Color
    Yellow
  • Pollinator Friendly
    Yes
  • Pollinator Required
    No
  • Bloom Period
    Early Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Late Fall
  • Does Not Ship To
    AK, HI, ID, MT, OR

Planting & Care Instructions

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: Provide at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun daily. Full sun is vital for maintaining the deep maple-leaf purple foliage and ensuring the plant has enough energy to produce its massive 8-inch blooms.
  • Soil: These perennials thrive in rich, moist soil that does not dry out quickly. If you have sandy soil, mix in plenty of organic matter like compost to help hold onto water and provide the heavy nutrients this plant requires.

Watering Requirements

Hardy Hibiscus are thirsty plants that need consistent moisture to keep their large flowers from wilting in the summer heat. During the first growing season, water deeply every two to three days to help the root system expand. Once established, keep the soil consistently damp because dry spells can cause the plant to drop its flower buds prematurely.

Pruning Tips

This variety blooms entirely on new wood, so you should cut the old woody stalks down to about 4 inches from the ground in late winter or early spring. This clean slate approach allows the plant to focus all its energy on the vigorous new stems that emerge once the soil warms up. Since these are often the last perennials to wake up in the spring, this pruning also helps you remember where the plant is located.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer in early spring as soon as you see the first green shoots emerging from the ground. Avoid using fertilizers with high nitrogen levels late in the summer because this encourages tender green growth that is easily damaged by the first frost. Think of spring feeding like a healthy breakfast that fuels the plant for its incredibly fast growth spurt through the summer.

Long, billowing mounds of lavish flower power make a gigantic statement, no matter where you place them. Add an instant "pop" of tropical appeal with the Mars Madness Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus x 'Mars Madness' PP #27838). It's easy to create a backyard paradise with these modern cultivars. The magenta-red petals have hints of pink and a darker center with yellow tubular stamens.

The flowers start in mid-summer and last through fall. Butterflies, hummingbirds, and essential pollinators adore the saucer-shaped blooms for their nectar! No one can miss the vivid, six-inch blooms! They add both vibrant color and a wonderful texture with veins that are deeply impressed into the petals.

They'll become an incredible accent, even before the blooms get started. New foliage emerges coppery-purple, then ages to olive green with a copper overlay! With its unique foliage and flowers, even a single plant makes the most of a space. They'll grow to form a full, billowy look with large maple-like leaves and outstanding flowers produced from the top to the bottom.

You'll love them for the gorgeous drama they bring. This Hardy Hibiscus is an improved modern cultivar of native Rose Mallow...and is a durable, sustainable choice for your landscape! Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 4 to 9, these perennials grow just over 4 feet in height and 6 feet in width.

Planting and Application:

Versatile and engaging perennials like Mars Madness can be used throughout your landscape. Place them wherever you want to call tons of attention! Nothing could be easier than a series of Mars Madness Hardy Hibiscus planted along your pool deck! Your guests will have an easy conversation starter with their showy style.

Try them as an amazing backdrop for Butterfly Gardens. Magenta blooms and dark foliage will turn any perennial planting into an event! Add some serious pizzazz to your foundation planting! Flank either side of your front door with a pair of them in oversized containers.

They'll fit right into a Cottage Garden, and can even provide a bit of structure if you'd like! Plant them four feet apart for an eye-catching flowering hedge along a white picket fence! If you have the room, expand your planting with a new curved garden bed. Use three or more of these dynamic Hardy Hibiscus in a grouping to maximize your curb appeal.

Try them with Hydrangea for an unforgettable summertime look! Or use them to support one of our expertly crafted Tree-Form Roses for a stratospheric focal point.

In a small yard, compact plants like this are a wonderful choice to soften corners. Plant them at the corner of your garage for a visual blast in an otherwise bland and boring area!

And don't forget to try them near a water feature, whether it be a full-blown pond or just a bubbling fountain. Mars Madness will tolerate life in the splash zone without a problem.

Use one as a focal point in a Meditation Garden or outdoor Yoga Studio. Commune with the butterflies visiting your plant! No yard? No problem! Just grow them in supersized fabric grow bags or outdoor containers for sultry good looks on your balcony.

  • Huge Magenta-Red Blooms Six Inches Across
  • Dark Red Halo & Showy Stamens Decorate the Centers
  • Gorgeous Display Midsummer through Early Fall
  • Lush, Spreading Shape
  • Maple-Leaf-Shaped Foliage Emerge Coppery-Purple
  • Copper-Hued Leaves Become Bold Olive Green
  • Great for Pollinators & Butterflies!

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Grow Perennial Hibiscus in part shade or full sun, they need at least four hours of sunlight a day. Morning sun is preferred to quickly dry the foliage from any overnight dew. Plant in soils that drain quickly, although they'll put up with a periodic rainy spell. Container-grown plants should have plenty of drainage holes...and avoid using saucers underneath. Although well-drained soil is best, they'll put up with periodically dry soils, too. Provide a regular schedule of water to keep them hydrated and happy. Add a three-inch layer of mulch over the roots to cut down on surface evaporation.

For best results over time, give your Hardy Hibiscus a sheltered spot. It will still need good air circulation, but out of the worst of the winds to keep the blooms from getting tattered or torn! Remove spent flowers once they are finished for a trim and tidy look. Prune back each of the stems to ground level in early spring. Please be patient, as they are one of the last plants to get started. By late spring, you'll start seeing new stems emerge from the roots.

  • Full Sun or Partial/Afternoon Shade
  • Average Well-Drained Soil
  • Can Be Grown in Average, Moist to Wet Soils
  • Deadhead After Flowers Fade
  • Dies To The Ground Each Winter - Prune Early Spring
  • Very Cold-Hardy & Heat-Tolerant

Life with the fascinating charm of Mars Madness Hardy Hibiscus is a good time! Add these fun, flirty shrubs this season! Explore your wild side with these outstanding perennials. Order Mars Madness Hardy Hibiscus from the expert flowering shrub growers at Nature Hills today!

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