Kopper King Hardy Hibiscus Dazzles With Dark Foliage and Gigantic Flowers

Virtues: We love Hibiscus ‘Kopper King’ for its flashy flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Everything about this plant is showy, from its dinner plate–size flowers to its copper-tinged dark stems and foliage. Accent the border and low, wet spots of your garden with Hardy Hibiscus or use it to line streams and ponds.

Common name:Hibiscus 'Kopper King'

Botanical name: ‘Kopper King’ hardy hibiscus, rose mallow or swamp mallow

Flowers: Kopper King’s tropical-looking flowers are white to pink with a burst of deep red in the center. They have a diameter of 10 to 12 inches. Each flower lasts only one day, but new blooms open daily for a long overall bloom time.

Foliage: Hibiscus ‘Kopper King’ gets its name from its colorful leaves, which are a purplish color tinged with burnished copper.

Habit: This perennial plant grows in a clumping, compact, shrub-like fashion to a height of 3 to 6 feet and a spread of 1 to 3 feet. It dies back in the fall and sprouts anew in very late spring or early summer.

Season: Blooms late summer into fall.

How to grow it: Hardy hibiscus thrives in full sun, but can tolerate partial shade. It tolerates wet soil but will grow in an average garden as long as it is kept regularly watered. Prefers rich, fertile soil. Deadhead spent blooms on a regular basis. Cut the stems down to three to six inches tall once the show is over in fall. Hardy hibiscus can be very late to grow in the spring; typically soil temperatures need to be a consistent 75˚F or higher for it to begin growth. Have patience; it will come back and quickly grow several feet tall before erupting in flower after midsummer. ‘Kopper King’ is a hybrid of several Hibiscus species native to the United States. USDA Zones 4–9.

Image courtesy of PerennialResource.com
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Learn how to use bold, colorful plants like 'Kopper King' hibiscus in your garden with Rebecca Sweet's Refresh Your Garden Design With Color, Texture & Form.

Find more eye-catching and winter-hardy plants in Bloom's Best Perennials & Grasses.

Learn about other perennials that provide both interesting foliage and beautiful flowers with Graham Rice's Powerhouse Plants.