We've had an exceptionally wet winter so it's possible it succumbed but I doubt it. Members of the mallow family like it hot and sometimes they take a little longer to start growing. Wait it out. Fortunately, they are easily propagated from cuttings in spring so if you lost it, ask around and someone near you will probably help you by rooting a stem cutting once growth starts. RJ

Will, your hibiscus looks gorgeous and I so appreciate all the care and concern you've shown for it. It will be so pretty when it blooms! Now...a word or two about the Japanese Beetles. You may want to rethink using a trap as they supposedly attract more beetles to your garden. I attached a link with some good information about controlling the darned things that may be helpful. I've had good luck over the years using Neem oil products on the plants plus treating the lawn for grubs. Please post more pictures when your hibiscus is blooming. Rosie Here is a link that might be useful: Stop Japanese Beetles

Beth, I had to look up 'fringed rose mallow' and see it's the same as hibiscus schitzopetalus. I had only heard it called Japanese lanterns, but had to be sure it was the same. Anyway, I just take end cuttings 10-12 inches long, strip off most of the leaves, put in potting soil and keep damp. I don't use rooting hormone and this is just my way, but maybe someone has a better system. I have also just stuck a piece in the ground and it rooted. Ginny

If anyone is looking for these, NOW is the time of year to be getting them at local garden centers. For anyone in the Denver area, you should be able to get them at Paulino's and/or Timberline Gardens. In their catalog this year, Paulino's lists these varieties: 'Lord Baltimore', 'Lady Baltimore', 'Clown', 'Crimson Wonder', 'Fantasia', 'Kopper King', 'Moy Grande', 'Blue River II', 'Southern Belle Mix', and 'Disco Belle' in all the colors. If you stop by there, be sure to ask for a copy of their perennial catalog. The heights of these, depending on variety, range from about 4' to 7' or more, and the flower size ranges from about 6" to a good foot in diameter. Each flower lasts only one day, but they are constantly replaced by many, many more until fall. Mine continued until almost Halloween last year. The wilting flowers will drop off by themselves in a few days, but to keep them looking neater (since there are so many flowers on established plants), I usually go around every couple days and pull dying flowers off--you don't need a scissors. If I don't have something with me to collect them in, I just toss them in a pile at the bottom of the plant and pick up the pile later. Last fall, when I was cutting them down for winter, I snipped off a whole bunch of the dry seed heads to use in dried arrangements. These are definitely NOT xeric perennials, and will require consistant watering all summer. They can be grown in wet to boggy soil, so you don't need to worry about overwatering them. The most important thing to know about them is that they come up very, very, very late in spring! I have 3 established Disco Belle's, and they didn't appear at all until the beginning of June this year. So be sure you know where they are and just wait--and wait--and wait for them. When they do come up they grow VERY quickly! BUT, she said with a tear in her eye, my 3 beautiful pink Disco Belle's that are supposed to get about 4' tall and are already almost 5', and just started blooming within the last 2 weeks, got TOTALLY smooshed down by the inch of rain I got yesterday in less than half an hour! I'm not really complaining since we need the rain so badly, but I sure do hope they're able to stand back up by themselves when they dry off. (It's raining again right now (Thornton), and with what I got overnight, I'm up to almost 2 inches now!. Boy, is everything ever green!) Here's a link to the Hibiscus info at Perennials.com. They list 17 varieties, but, unfortunately, only have pictures of a few of them. Happy gardening all, Skybird Here is a link that might be useful: Hibiscus at Perennials.com