Lilac Crush Hibiscus (Hibiscus 'Summerific Lilac Crush')
hy-BIS-kus 'Summerific Lilac Crush'

Deciduous Perennial Erect, Multi-Stemmed in the Malvaceae Family

Hibiscus 'Summerific Lilac Crush' (US Plant Patent 35,181) is part of the Summerific series of hardy hibiscus, bred by Walters Gardens, Inc. and sold through Proven Winners. A complex Hibiscus moscheutos hybrid, it forms an erect, multi-stemmed herbaceous perennial about 5 to 5.5 feet tall and 4 to 4.5 feet wide, with lilac-purple flowers (cooler, more purple-toned in cool weather) opening from midsummer into late summer.

Unlike tropical hibiscus, this hardy perennial dies back to the ground each winter and regrows reliably from the roots -- winter hardy through zone 4a, far colder than Chicago needs. Prefers full sun and consistently moist to wet soil; tolerates occasional standing water. Taller than most Summerific siblings -- may benefit from some wind shelter.

Pros

  • Unusual lilac-purple color, rare among hardy hibiscus
  • Attracts hummingbirds and pollinators
  • Fully winter hardy here -- no digging or overwintering indoors

Cons

  • Dies back completely each winter -- no winter interest
  • Each flower lasts only a day
  • Tall habit may need some wind shelter
Highlights Part of the patented, truly winter-hardy Summerific series, valued for its unusual lilac-purple blooms from midsummer into late summer on a tall, erect, multi-stemmed perennial.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 5 - 6 feet tall. 4 - 5 feet wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet
Zones 4a - 9b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Deer Resistant, Formal Garden, Foundation, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Borders, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Medium, Normal Soil, Perennial, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Wet
Flower Color Lilac/purple, cooler in tone in low temperatures
 

In The News

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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 05/17
2024 : 05/01 - 05/04
2023 : 06/21 - 07/08

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!