Hibiscus syriacus ‘Blue Bird’

Description

Hibiscus syriacus ‘Blue Bird’

Hibiscus syriacus ‘Blue Bird’, also known as ‘Oiseau Bleu’, is a deciduous shrub prized for its large, saucer-shaped flowers of violet-blue with a contrasting deep red centre. Blooming from late summer into autumn, it provides valuable colour at a time when many other shrubs have finished flowering. The dark green, lobed foliage forms an upright, bushy habit, reaching a height and spread of around 1.5m in 10 years making it well suited to mixed borders, shrubberies or as a specimen plant.

Cultivation is straightforward: grow in full sun for the best flowering display, in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. It tolerates a range of soil types, including chalky ground, and is fully hardy throughout most of the UK. Choose a sheltered spot in colder areas, as late frosts can damage young growth. Little pruning is required, though old or crossing stems can be removed in late winter or early spring to maintain a tidy shape.