Beautiful flower : any ideas?

[blackadder1st]

Hi guys

We were in Cyprus recently and these were in the garden at the villa where we were staying. Would love to grow them in our garden but no idea what it is.

Cheers

Allan

http://twitpic.com/9off0a

[lorax]

That's a tropical hibiscus (H. rosa-sinensis) which would promptly shuffle loose this mortal coil the first Edinburgh winter it sees. They do make lovely houseplants, though.

If you want hardiness with a similar flower, look at Lavatera.

[lily51]

Saw many of these in the wild in Hawaii. Each island seemed to have a different color. Just beautiful!

[blackadder1st]

Cheers for this. I'm having a look for them now. Apparently they can survive over here, so I'm willing to give them a go - would look great round my new gazebo - but if not, into the house they'll be coming! Just need to find somewhere to buy them now ...

[kdodds]

Rose of Sharon is a hardy variety of Hibiscus and there are many, many other perennial mallows with similar flowers (most not as large).