Fireball Hibiscus Hibiscus 'Fireball'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-BIS-kus
- Description
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What has showy, ten-inch red flowers from June through August? It’s the ‘Fireball’ hardy hibiscus! It has dazzled gardeners since its introduction in 2001. An attractive, tropical-looking perennial shrub, ‘Fireball’ reaches a mature height of 4 feet. Special to this plant is its ability to thrive in heat and humidity. Grow this tough perennial in full sun with evenly moist soil. In addition to its heat tolerance, this perennial hibiscus is cold hardy from Zone 5 to Zone 9. In other words, ‘Fireball’ can be grown anywhere in North Carolina.
‘Fireball’s’ combination of impressive red flowers and attractive, deeply cut green foliage with distinctive purple colored veins gives this plant charm for any sunny garden. Keep the soil from drying out and you’ll soon learn why this plant is a true showstopper!
Wildlife Value: Members of the genus Hibiscus support the following specialized bee: Ptilothrix bombiformis. It is also resistant to deer damage.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hibiscus
- Species:
- ‘Fireball’ PPAF
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropics & Subtropics to N. America
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Clear red with delicate petals
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Deeply cut, three-lobed
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Drought
- Humidity
