Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Blackberry Merlot Hardy Hibiscus: Wine Red Blooms for Late Summer
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Blackberry Merlot hardy hibiscus has some of the deepest red flowers among hardy hibiscus. Its 8-inch saucers are a rich, velvety wine red with a slightly darker, shiny center, and their rippled petals hold up to wind. Young leaves come in olive green with mahogany tones before settling to deep green.
It is late-season color with real weight, just when many perennials are packing it in for the year.
Blackberry Merlot at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hibiscus 'Blackberry Merlot' |
| Flowers | About 8 inches, velvety deep wine red with a darker eye |
| Foliage | Deep green, broad |
| Size | 48 to 54 inches tall, 42 to 48 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid to late July, peaks mid-August, eight weeks or more |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun; part shade tolerated |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators and hummingbirds; moderately deer resistant |
Sun yes, dry feet no
Blackberry Merlot loves the same full sun as lavender, and that is where the similarity ends. Hardy hibiscus needs consistent moisture and should never dry out for long. In a lavender bed it would wilt; water it enough to keep it happy and the lavender would rot. So give it its own moist, sunny place: a rain garden, a pond edge or a regularly watered border nearby.
On a lavender property, its timing is the real gift. Lavender peaks in early summer and is often harvested by late July. Blackberry Merlot opens about then and keeps going for eight weeks or more, so the sunny side of the garden has a bold focal point into early fall. Its deep red reads beautifully against the silvery mounds of post-harvest lavender seen across the yard.
Care through the year
- Water: consistent moisture all season. Leaves wilt and flowering slows if the soil dries in heat.
- Soil: poor to fertile is fine if it stays moist.
- Spring: it may not emerge until late May or June. Mark its spot in fall.
- Cleanup: cut woody stems back to a few inches in late fall or early spring.
- Pests: watch for Japanese beetles, aphids and sawfly larvae.
Choosing a format
Blackberry Merlot is available as a 72-cell plug tray, suited to growers and large rain garden projects, and as a bare root plant for a single specimen. See each product page for current availability and the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
How red is it, really?
It is among the deepest red hardy hibiscus, a velvety wine red rather than a bright fire-engine red.
Does it need staking?
Its tight, upright habit usually stands on its own.
Is it a tropical hibiscus?
No. It is a hardy perennial hibiscus that dies back in winter and returns each year in zones 4 to 9.
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