Experiments in Hibiscus Propagation

I've had lots of disappointments in propagating local and historically indigenous rose mallows (Hibiscus spp.)  They were the first plants in pre-colonial America to be cultivated for shipment back to Europe.  The seeds we've collected from locally growing Hibiscus moscheutos (white/cream-colored flowers the size of dinner plates) are always infested with mites that are not killed by freezing.

We ordered seeds of Hibiscus moscheutos, Hibiscus laevis (syn. militaris), and a subspecies of H. moscheutos often called H. paulstris (actually Hibiscus moscheutos palustris, Swamp Rose Mallow) from Prairie Moon Nursery.  We direct-sewed them naturally (as if they'd fallen from the plant's seed pod), and then spent many, many hours trying more advantageous seedings.  We've truly only been regularly successful when sewing the seeds in April in the greenhouse and then transplanting after germination (about 100x more work than our preferred approach!).

So now I'm convinced the only strategy for sewing seeds directly is to do so in situ after the last frost, in areas with appropriate moisture,  That's not easy, as that is our wettest time of year, and if you observe native H. moscheutos you'll see they grow immediately next to but not in the water.

That said, when the experiments are successful, the colors are impressive.     We fence anything (everything!) we transplant.  Hibiscus generally survive deer well, but as many of you know, deer usually don't know they don't like something without trying it at least once!

from http://www.visoflora.com/#

I don't know who this kid is, but I wanted to provide an example of the size of these flowers.