Hibiscus 'Blue Bird' Mini Standard Topiary Tree - 60-80cm Stem
Overview
Elevate your garden design with the spectacular Hibiscus 'Blue Bird' Mini Standard, a professionally trained topiary that delivers rare blue-toned blooms with tropical flair. This elegant specimen features an impressive 60-80cm clear stem crowned with a perfectly rounded head of lush foliage and extraordinary flowers, creating a stunning architectural element for sophisticated garden displays.
Key Features
- Mature Height: ~160cm total height with 60-80cm clear stem
- Spread: 50-60cm rounded crown
- Growth Habit: Trained standard topiary form
- Flowering Period: June through October
- Hardiness: Half-hardy (requires winter protection in most UK climates)
Extraordinary Blooms
The 'Blue Bird' variety is prized for its remarkable flowers that display unique blue-purple tones rarely seen in the hibiscus world. Each magnificent bloom measures 12-15cm across and features deep violet-blue petals with darker veining and a prominent burgundy centre. The flowers open from deep purple buds and maintain their striking colour throughout their 2-day lifespan, with new blooms appearing in continuous succession throughout the growing season.
Foliage and Form
Dense, heart-shaped leaves in rich green provide the perfect foil for the dramatic blooms. The professionally trained standard form showcases a clean, architectural silhouette with the extended 60cm clear stem creating an impressive presence in any setting. This taller standard form makes it ideal for creating height variation in plantings or as a commanding focal point in formal garden designs.
Growing Requirements
Position
Requires full sun exposure of at least 6-8 hours daily to achieve the best flower colour and prolific blooming. Choose a warm, sheltered location protected from strong winds, which can damage both the flowers and the carefully maintained topiary structure. The taller stem height makes wind protection particularly important.
Soil
Thrives in well-draining, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0-7.0. For container cultivation, use a premium multipurpose compost enhanced with perlite or horticultural grit to ensure excellent drainage. Heavy, waterlogged soils should be avoided as they can lead to root problems and poor flowering.
Watering
Maintain consistent soil moisture during the active growing period, watering thoroughly when the top 3-4cm of soil becomes dry to touch. Container specimens require more frequent attention, especially during hot summer weather. Reduce watering frequency significantly during winter months when plant growth naturally slows.
Feeding
Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every two weeks throughout the growing season (April-September). Switch to a high-potash feed during summer months to promote abundant flowering and intensify bloom colours. Container-grown plants benefit from slow-release fertiliser granules applied in early spring.
Care and Maintenance
Pruning
Conduct light pruning in late winter or early spring to maintain the topiary's shape and encourage dense, bushy growth in the crown. Remove any shoots that appear on the clear stem immediately to preserve the standard form. Regular deadheading of spent blooms encourages continuous flowering and keeps the plant looking tidy.
Winter Protection
Essential winter protection is required in most UK locations due to the plant's tender nature. Move container plants to a frost-free greenhouse, conservatory, or bright indoor location when temperatures drop below 5°C. Garden-planted specimens need substantial fleece protection or should be lifted and overwintered in a cool, bright indoor space.
Pest and Disease Management
Generally robust but may occasionally attract aphids, whitefly, or spider mites, particularly when grown under glass. Ensure adequate air circulation around the plant and avoid watering the foliage to minimise fungal problems. Regular monitoring allows for prompt treatment if issues develop.
Garden Uses
- Statement pieces: Perfect as a dramatic focal point in formal gardens
- Container displays: Excellent for large pots on patios and terraces
- Height variation: Ideal for creating tiered plantings in mixed borders
- Seasonal bedding: Outstanding centrepiece for summer display schemes
- Conservatory plants: Superb for heated glasshouse cultivation
- Commercial landscaping: Suitable for hotel and restaurant gardens
Companion Planting
The taller stem height allows for more diverse underplanting options including medium-height perennials, ornamental grasses, and trailing plants. Complements silver-leafed plants like artemisia and lavender, while the unique flower colour pairs beautifully with yellow and white flowering companions such as argyranthemums and calibrachoa.
What You'll Receive
Your Hibiscus 'Blue Bird' arrives as a mature, well-established plant in a nursery container, professionally trained with a clear 60cm stem and well-developed crown. The plant is ready for immediate planting in the garden or can continue growing in containers throughout the season.
Growing Tips for Success
Position your 'Blue Bird' in the hottest, sunniest spot available to maximise both flowering and the intensity of the unique blue-purple blooms. The extraordinary flower colour makes this variety particularly photogenic, so consider placing it where it can be easily admired and photographed. With proper care and adequate winter protection, this remarkable standard will become a treasured centrepiece that generates admiration and conversation in your garden for many seasons to come.
Buying Shrubs from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we sell a variety of shrubs both evergreen and deciduous with a variety of flowering times throughout the year. At certain times of the year our shrubs you buy from us may not look like the images shown on our website when deciduous leaves have fallen, the shrub has finished flowering or has been trimmed back.
Some leaves on evergreen shrubs can be damaged in winter by frost or harsh winds but in spring new leaves will readily replace those damaged. This is quite normal on many evergreen varieties and is preferable to plants grown with excessive protection that show cold shock once planted out and establish less satisfactory initially.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
* Please Note: Shrubs in 20 litre pots and above might require a pallet delivery starting at £79.99 per pallet. Depending on the exact pot size and height it may be possible to get approximately 5 plants per pallet at no extra cost. The maximum height we can dispatch on a pallet is 2.0m, this includes the height of the pallet and pot.
Shrubs are deciduous or evergreen woody plants, and often provide fragrant flowers, berries and foliage. They are good for structural framework, and they can provide a wonderful shelter and food source for wildlife.
Planting and Conditions
Container grown shrubs can be grown at any time of year. It is a little known fact that shrubs planted in the autumn and winter will be easier to look after than those planted in the spring and summer, because they will have time to establish and become hardy in the cooler months.
Plant the shrub at the same depth as it was in its original pot. Planting too deeply can result in root and stem rot.
One of the biggest causes of death in new shrubs is drought stress, so keep it well watered until it’s established.
Make sure you loosen the soil prior to planting. Most shrubs are tolerant of most soil types as long as it is fairly well draining.
Most shrubs will grow happily in containers, but they will be much more demanding on feeding and watering than shrubs in the ground would be. They will also need potting on every couple of years so that they don’t suffocate or become stunted in their pot.
Aftercare and Pruning
Once established, shrubs generally do not require much water. However, at first they need careful, frequent watering and should not be left to dry out.
Shrubs in the ground are generally not demanding and in most cases, annual feeding with general purpose fertilizer will suffice. Shrubs in containers may need more feeding; usually from early spring until late summer.
Shrubs also benefit from mulching in order to supress weeds, conserve moisture and provide vital nutrients. Mulch also greatly improves soil conditions. Shrubs can be mulched in late winter, after fertiliser has been applied, but it can be mulched through autumn to late spring as long as the ground is damp.
All shrubs benefit from dead-heading once spent flowers become apparent. Rhododendrons and Lilac especially benefit from the removal of dead flowers.
Some shrubs may show signs of reverted growth or ‘sporting’. This is where random shoots of different leaves associated with the plant’s parentage begin to appear. Most commonly this is where plants with variegated leaves sprout pure green growths instead of variegated ones.
To control reversion, remove reverted shoots promptly to discourage them. Reverted shoots are usually much more vigorous than the variegated ones, and thus should be completely pruned out and cut back into wood containing variegated foliage.
Potential Issues
Although shrubs are usually very robust garden plants, they can sometimes start to decline with no apparent or obvious reason.
This will start with browning leaves, which could indicate plant stress due to lack of water or waterlogging, an establishment failure or, in the worst case scenario, honey fungus. Another cause of leaf browning is a high salt content in the soil. This could be a natural occurrence, especially if you live near the ocean, or it could be from over fertilisation.
To remedy a high salt content, cut back on fertiliser and step up your watering regime for the next few weeks. If you live by the ocean, this will be harder to remedy—but stepping up your watering will help to wash some of the salt away all the same.
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£39.99 |