Cranberry Crush Hardy Hibiscus

Scientific Name: Hibiscus ‘Cranberry Crush’

Order: Malvales

Family: Malvaceae

Type: Perennial

Endangered Status: n/a

Number of Recorded Individuals at the Zoo: 30

Cranberry Crush hardy hibiscus is a hybrid cultivar that is a result of crossing selections from several native hardy perennial hibiscus species. In mid to late summer, this plant’s scarlet-red dinner plate-sized flowers bloom among dark green leaves and woody herbaceous stems that die back each year. This hibiscus has bright green calyxes and a pollen-covered stamen that attracts bees and other pollinators. The Cranberry Crush hardy hibiscus prefers full sun and medium to wet soil and is often grown as an accent plant or in perennial borders. It produces nectar enjoyed by hummingbirds and its flowers are a browse favorite for the animals at Lincoln Park Zoo.

Native Range
From cultivation

USDA Hardiness Zone
4–9

Average Mature Height
3.5 feet

Flower Color
Red

Flowering Months
July–September

Supports
Butterflies