Zone 8 gardeners may feel a little timid when it comes to growing tropical hibiscus. That is somewhat understandable, but as I wrote about creating a hydrangea heaven, your hibiscus dazzle may come from the partnerships you choose.

This will be my third year growing four selections of the Hollywood Hibiscus series. The series now totals 14, if you can believe it. The series, and the fact that it’s under the Proven Winners logo, will open the door for gardeners to choose the hibiscus that fits their color palette and motif. What I mean by that is that hibiscus shopping has always been kind of potluck or limited by what the retailer can get and has on the bench.

Most of my life I have simply bought a tropical hibiscus, put it in a pot on the patio, put on my Hawaiian shirt and embraced the island life atmosphere.

Now I have started thinking about combinations. The Hollywood Hibiscus are in containers too, but my backyard is set up so that they still allow for stunning combinations. Once you start doing this you will feel more like an artist or designer, and the hibiscus becomes part of a plan.

Hollywood Hibiscus VIP is truly one of the most beautiful I have ever grown. The flowers are large and the color is so rare in the garden. The colors also change throughout the day, featuring yellow gold and darker honey gold with a magenta-red throat. Hollywood Hibiscus VIP looks as though it belongs to royalty.

A couple of weeks ago I presented a photo in my column where blue Let’s Dance hydrangeas were in the background creating the ultimate complementary contrast.

But last summer I started growing it with various Heart to Heart caladiums. Suddenly I had a menagerie of foliage and flowers that screamed South Pacific and the imaginary feeling that you could hear "Bali Ha’i" in the distance.

Hollywood Hibiscus Disco Diva is certainly not overlooked. Its flowers are large and the PW tags say Creamsicle Orange with Bright Ruby Magenta center. In my landscape it ages to a deeper orange by the close of day. On my rock wall I was growing containers with Supertunia Tiara Blue, Honey and Persimmon petunias. Then suddenly, the Hollywood Hibiscus Disco Diva put forth blooms that were a perfect match and of course much larger than the Supertunias. Like the Hollywood Hibiscus VIP, the Disco Diva was also used against a backdrop of Heart to Heart caladiums for a look of island magic.

Hollywood Hibiscus America’s Sweetheart is one of the most prolific blooming tropical hibiscuses I have ever grown. The flowers aren’t as large as the VIP and Disco Diva but it is always loaded with blooms. The tag says pale pink edges, medium pink interior and deep magenta throat and that sums it up, other than "drop dead gorgeous." I’ve grown it with Supertunia Mini Vista Plum Veined petunias and Superbena Cobalt verbena, but to see it with my white chiminea may be the ultimate combination.

All of these are expected to reach 4 feet tall with a 5-foot spread. Good potting soil and a large enough container to let the hibiscus reach its potential will give you the green thumb award. Since you will most likely be watering daily in the summer, feed regularly with a diluted water-soluble fertilizer or controlled release granules per the label instructions.

These are tropical in nature and have hardiness zones from 9-11. We have roughly 244 growing days in zone 8, which is a long season to relish the beauty of Hollywood Hibiscus. I do and they spend a few nights in the garage. I’ve got windows that are positioned just right. Start looking for Hollywood Hibiscus at your garden center and follow me in Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy for more photos and garden inspiration.

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(Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy.)

(NOTE TO EDITORS: Norman Winter receives complimentary plants to review from the companies he covers.)

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