Hibiscus
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the flamboyant tropical shrub behind the classic single-day flower — a broad, silky trumpet with a long central column of stamens. Colours run from fiery red and coral to yellow, apricot and white, each bloom lasting only about a day whether cut or on the plant. Florists reach for it in tropical and editorial designs where drama outweighs longevity, often floating blooms in water or placing them at the very last moment. Nothing signals the tropics more instantly than its open, saturated face.
| Family | Malvaceae |
|---|---|
| Origin | Tropical Asia |
| Peak season | July, August |
| Availability | June, July, August, September |
| Stem length | 20–40 cm |
| Vase life | 1–2 days |
| Colors | red, pink, orange, yellow, white, coral |
| Price tier | mid |
Because each hibiscus flower naturally lasts only about a day, cut and use blooms the same day they open. Keep stems in cool water until the last possible moment and place flowers into designs just before an event. Blooms are often floated in bowls or wired individually rather than expected to last in an arrangement. Cool storage slows, but cannot stop, their swift finish.
- •Use blooms the day they open
- •Place into designs at the last moment
- •Keep cool until use to buy time
- •Float or wire single flowers for impact
- •Choose fresh, just-opened flowers only
