Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Midnight Marvel Hardy Hibiscus: Scarlet Saucers on Wine Leaves
Save
Midnight Marvel hardy hibiscus is a two-for-one plant. Its thick, leathery, deeply cut leaves look like a dark maple's, in a deep wine purple that gets darker the more sun they get. Then glossy black-red buds open into scarlet flowers 8 to 9 inches across, with a darker eye, from several points along each stem. Each flower lasts a day or two, but the show runs from midsummer into early fall.
It is relatively compact for a hardy hibiscus, about 4 feet tall and 4½ feet wide, and it has earned excellent ratings in public garden trials.
Midnight Marvel at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hibiscus 'Midnight Marvel' |
| Flowers | Deep scarlet red, 8 to 9 inches, from black-red buds |
| Foliage | Deep wine purple, maple-like, thick and leathery |
| Size | About 48 inches tall, 54 inches wide |
| Bloom | Mid-July, peaks mid-August, into early fall |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators and hummingbirds; moderately deer resistant |
Same sun, different soil
Midnight Marvel shares lavender's love of full sun, and the more sun it gets, the darker its leaves. But it does not share lavender's dry feet. Its parent species are wetland plants, and it needs consistent moisture to keep flowering through summer heat. In dry soil, flowering slows and the big leaves wilt.
The fix is to give it its own sunny, moist spot: a rain garden at the end of a downspout, a low area of the yard or a border on a regular watering schedule. From there, the dark foliage and scarlet blooms make a dramatic anchor that you can see from your lavender planting. Plan the dry and wet zones together in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: poor to fertile, as long as moisture is consistent.
- Water: deeply and regularly through summer, especially in heat waves.
- Space: plant at least four to five feet from neighbors; it gets wide.
- Pests: Japanese beetles, aphids and sawfly larvae are the common problems; check leaves in midsummer.
- Diseases: few serious ones; leaf spots, rust and Botrytis appear in wet seasons. Good airflow helps.
Late to wake up
Fully hardy in Michigan, Midnight Marvel is very late to emerge, often not until late May or June. Mark its location so you do not dig it up or plant on top of it in spring. Cut the woody stems back to a few inches in late fall or early spring.
Plug tray or bare root
The 72-cell plug tray suits growers and large plantings; the bare root plant gives you a single specimen for a home rain garden or border. See each product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my leaves green, not purple?
Not enough sun. The purple overlay darkens in full sun and fades in shade.
Do hummingbirds visit?
Yes. The huge scarlet flowers draw hummingbirds as well as bees.
Can I cut the flowers?
They are poor cut flowers, lasting only a day or two. Enjoy them on the plant.
Share how it went in your field