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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #240699

Title: Notice to Nurserymen of the Naming and Release for Propagation of Sahara Sunset, A New African Hibiscus Cultivar

Author
item Pounders Jr, Cecil

Submitted to: Germplasm Release
Publication Type: Germplasm Release
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/10/2009
Publication Date: 5/15/2009
Citation: Pounders, C.T. 2009. Notice to Nurserymen etc. Germplasm Release. United States Deptartment of Agriculture: Agriculture Research Service, Washington, D.C. 20250.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Hibiscus asetosella 'Sahara Sunset' is an African hibiscus released by the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service that was Developed by Dr. Cecil Pounders at the Thad Cochran Southern Horticultural Laboratory in Poplarville, MS. ‘Sahara Sunset’ is a tropical shrub (USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 10), grown as an annual for the beauty of its colorful maple like leaves. Plants of ‘Sahara Sunset’ are moderately vigorous, have a spreading upright growth habit, and have unique multicolored ornamental foliage. When grown as an annual, it can reach two meters tall by the end of summer if grown under optimum conditions without pruning. It is well suited to a variety of landscape uses such as a specimen plant, a color accent in shrub borders, a contrast plant in mixed annual planters, as a background planting in perennial beds and as a summer hedge. Plants thrive in summer heat and perform best in full sun with moderate moisture and fertility. Its broad environmental adaptation and tolerance of common insects and diseases make it an ideal plant for low maintenance plantings.