Alyogyne huegelii
( al - ly - oh - GY - nee hue - GEL - ee - eye )
At-A-Glance Information
Alyogyne huegelii, more commonly known as Blue Hibiscus or Lilac Hibiscus, is a shrub native to Australia. It is an upright plant reaching 8 to 10 feet tall and wide. Leaves are dark, rough-textured and green. Flowers resemble those on the Hibiscus bush and can reach up to four inches across.
This plant blooms on-and-off year round, and individual flowers last for 2 to 3 days. It can be pinched or pruned to keep its shape and to create a bushier plant, but as with all plants, it prefers to keep its natural habit. Great as a container shrub or patio tree. |
Alyogyne huegelii Varietals
Blue Hibiscus can be found all along the coastline of Western Australia, and was first described in publication in the 1966 journal 'Australian Plants'. It takes its name from Charles von Hügel, Australian botanist, explorer, and military man. It belongs to the Malvaceae family. These shrubs grow best in zones 13-17, 20-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
caring for and pruning alyogyne huegelii shrubs
The first step in caring for Blue Hibiscus is to plant it in the correct spot in your yard in spring or fall. Soil should be sandy and well-draining, and it can do well with acidic soil (though it can adapt to neutral or alkaline soils as well). It loves full sun, and will bloom best in this exposure. The plant can grow in partial shade, but will not bloom as well. These shrubs can be damaged by strong winds, so in windy areas, provide good shelter and some support for young plants. It will grow quickly to its natural size without the need for much supplemental water, and needs little watering when it is established as well. Supplemental water can be given in the warmer summer months, but avoid overwatering. Mulch should be applied before the warmest parts of the summer, to keep the soil cool and retain moisture, and during the winter, when roots can be harmed by the frost. Blue Hibiscus generally thrives well without the need for fertilizer.
Pruning on a Blue Hibiscus is not necessary, but can be done to maintain size and shape if desired. Doing a light pruning on the ends of branches after the first bloom in springtime will encourage the plant to bloom again more profusely and rapidly. Blue Hibiscus can also tend to get a bit sparse on bottom branches if left unpruned; when this happens, prune them back hard and they should send out new shoots. On young plants, pinch growing tips to encourage a more bushy habit.
Pruning on a Blue Hibiscus is not necessary, but can be done to maintain size and shape if desired. Doing a light pruning on the ends of branches after the first bloom in springtime will encourage the plant to bloom again more profusely and rapidly. Blue Hibiscus can also tend to get a bit sparse on bottom branches if left unpruned; when this happens, prune them back hard and they should send out new shoots. On young plants, pinch growing tips to encourage a more bushy habit.
Propagation
The best way to propagate Blue Hibiscus is through cuttings. You will need clean, sharp garden shears, a pencil, organic potting soil, rooting hormone powder, and a few gallon-size pots. Follow the instructions below to propagate your Blue Hibiscus.
- The morning after your plant receives water in the springtime, take cuttings from new growth without flowers or buds about 4-6 inches long with clean, sharp garden shears. Pinch off all but the top 2 leaves. If the cutting has any hard wood on it (part of the stem that is not green), scrape off the bark with your fingernail.
- Fill your pot with organic potting soil and give it water, ensuring that it drains well. Use your pencil to make holes for your cuttings about two inches apart.
- Dip your cuttings in rooting hormone powder, and place them in the holes. Fill in the holes so that the cuttings stay upright, but don't pack down the soil too much. Place your pot with cuttings in a cool place (between 55 and 70 degrees) in your home or greenhouse that receives bright indirect light. Water when soil gets dry; keep it moist, but not wet.
- In around four to six weeks, you should see new growth on your cuttings. Once these new leaves start appearing, your cuttings can be transplanted into their own individual pots filled with organic potting soil. Keep them in the same place in your home, and after the last frost of the next spring, they can be planted in the ground outside or in a container on your patio. Then, enjoy watching them grow!
Problems and pests
Blue Hibiscus can run into problems if it is planted in soil that does not drain well. Other than this issue, it has very few problems.
Gallery
Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 148, Alogyne huegelii (Blue Hibiscus)
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!