HIBISCUS: Popular for nearly 200 years and with good reason. Its size and growth habit allow it to be planted near a home or in a border, and its flowers are spectacular! Very useful for late summer to early fall bloom. Slow to begin growing in the spring, but makes up for lost time fast. Hibiscus ‘Cherry Brandy’. Cordial Hibiscus. USDA Zone: 5-9. A tall series, Cordial Hibiscus form bushy upright mounds of maple-shaped leaves. Huge saucer-shaped flowers appear in mid summer and continue until frost. This selection has blooms of solid cherry red, with contrasting bronzy-green foliage. Plants prefer evenly moist soil and sunny conditions. Stems die back completely to the ground in winter, but new growth is slow to appear in spring, so be patient! Old stems should be pruned to the ground in spring. A thick mulch for the first winter is recommended, especially in Zones 4 and 5. From Blooms of Bressingham.