Every leaf is unique
Tricolour patterning changes from leaf to leaf, creating a crown that looks hand painted.
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Hibiscus 'variegata' 19cm
Normal price
€15,00
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Hibiscus ‘Variegata’
- Every leaf is unique
- Red flower over pink growth
- A collectible historic form
- Frost-free winter
Hibiscus ‘Variegata’ offers two collectible experiences on one crown. Every leaf is painted differently in green, cream, pink and ruby, while clear red tropical flowers appear like vivid seals within the variegation. Even between flowering flushes it remains spectacular because no new leaf repeats the previous pattern exactly.
In a neutral container it becomes a portable exotic landscape for a terrace or a very bright interior. Its upright line adds height without heaviness, while pink young growth visually links the deep green foliage to the red flower.
What makes it distinctive
Three distinct details explain the horticultural value of Hibiscus cooperi ‘Cooperi’.
Red flower over pink growth
The clear red corolla becomes even more vivid against cream-and-pink new foliage.
A collectible historic form
‘Cooperi’ links modern molecular taxonomy with nineteenth-century ornamental selection.
Why you will love it: Every new leaf is different, keeping the crown collectible even between its spectacular red flowers.
In the garden & on the balconyPlacement & plant pairingsPosition, mature scale and companion planting tailored to this cultivar.
Best position
Use alone in a movable pot on a sunny, warm, sheltered terrace, giving the variegated crown light from every side and moving it into bright protection before cold weather arrives.
Compatible planting
Canna ‘Pretoria’, Strelitzia reginae and Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’ reinforce the tropical scene with striped, sculptural and burgundy foliage; keep separate pots so the hibiscus can be watered precisely.
- Canna ‘Pretoria’ — complements the composition with a different texture and compatible site and soil-moisture needs.
- Strelitzia reginae — complements the composition with a different texture and compatible site and soil-moisture needs.
- Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’ — adds linear texture and movement without hiding the main plant's natural mature outline.
Care at a glance
Light
Very bright light with gentle morning sun; acclimatise gradually before direct Greek summer sun.
Water
Water when the surface begins to dry, without allowing complete drought or water to stand in the saucer.
Climate & hardiness
Tender: growth slows below 10–12 °C and the plant needs a bright protected winter position.
Safety
An ornamental, not a food plant; do not confuse it with edible Hibiscus sabdariffa.
Detailed careComplete care guideLight, watering, soil, feeding, pruning and winter management.
Light
Very bright light with gentle morning sun; acclimatise gradually before direct Greek summer sun.
Water
Water when the surface begins to dry, without allowing complete drought or water to stand in the saucer.
Soil & drainage
Use a rich but aerated mix with free drainage; roots require oxygen as well as moisture.
Feeding
Feed little and often during active growth, with adequate potassium and trace elements; pause as temperatures fall.
Pruning
Light pinching after a flowering flush encourages side shoots; avoid hard pruning just before winter.
Winter
Move to a frost-free, bright place and reduce watering. Check leaf undersides for spider mites.
Development over timeFrom young plant to mature presenceEstablishment, branching, flowering and the real volume this plant will occupy in a garden.
Initial establishment
After repotting, the tropical crown balances new-root growth with existing buds. Gradual acclimatisation to strong light limits leaf drop and lets branching continue smoothly.
Building the crown
Pink young growth matures into cream-green sectors as the woody crown branches and carries more positions for red flowers.
Mature expression
At full maturity the crown reaches about 1–1.5 m in height and 0.5–1 m in spread. Final planting distance must follow that scale rather than the plant’s current young volume.
Mature habit & dimensions
Long-term maturityHeight 1–1.5 mSpread 0.5–1 mUpright tropical shrub with tricolour foliage and red flowers
The woody base branches into an upright crown of narrow, toothed leaves marbled green, cream and pink. Red flowers emerge among them, while the relatively narrow habit lets the variegated foliage take centre stage.
Form through time
Seasonal cycleTender evergreenSelf-supporting shrubFrost tenderupright variegated crown
Warm active periodPink young leaves and red flowers with projecting staminal columns complement the variegated crown.
Protected winterIn a bright frost-free position it retains foliage, with slower growth and reduced flowering.
Hibiscus cooperi ‘Cooperi’ is a tender evergreen shrub. The winter drawing shows a plant in protection: the crown may become sparser, but it does not follow the naturally bare dormancy of deciduous hibiscus.
History & originCultivar originVariegated South-Pacific foliage reaches Britain’s Victorian glasshouses.
The variegated foliage of Hibiscus cooperi ‘Cooperi’ reached heated European glasshouses in the mid-nineteenth century. Its journey took it from the South Pacific through Sydney to Britain, where James Veitch introduced it to horticulture around 1858.
The name honours Sir Daniel Cooper, who is associated with bringing the plant into cultivation in Australia. The name Hibiscus cooperi was first published in James Veitch Jr.’s catalogue in 1863.
The plant was subsequently associated taxonomically with H. × rosa-sinensis, before being recognised again as a distinct species native to Vanuatu. The variegated form retains the name ‘Cooperi’ and also appears in the trade as ‘Variegata’, carrying that distinctive foliage into contemporary gardens.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScientific details nobody asked forMechanisms, anatomy and chemistry explaining how the plant actually behaves.
Leaf structure helps reveal identity
In the botanical description of Hibiscus cooperi, leaves are lance-shaped and unlobed, roughly 1.9–3 times as long as wide. Their irregular marginal teeth differ from the often more evenly toothed, broader leaves of H. × rosa-sinensis.
The malvaceous staminal column
Stamen filaments fuse into a tube around the style, while five stigma lobes project at the tip. This column is a diagnostic feature of Malvaceae and spatially organises pollen production and pollen reception.
Frequently asked questions
Six exact answers about placement, watering, pruning and seasonal behaviour for Hibiscus cooperi ‘Cooperi’.
01Can Hibiscus cooperi ‘Cooperi’ remain in a pot long term?
Yes. A pot is practical for Hibiscus cooperi ‘Cooperi’ because it can move before cold weather arrives. Provide a stable base, free drainage and increase pot size gradually as roots fill the available space.
02Which position shows Hibiscus cooperi ‘Cooperi’ at its best?
Very bright light with gentle morning sun; acclimatise gradually before direct Greek summer sun. Keep an open visual field around its mature 0.5–1 m spread so the cultivar’s particular crown remains clearly legible.
03When should Hibiscus cooperi ‘Cooperi’ be watered again?
Water when the surface begins to dry, without allowing complete drought or water to stand in the saucer.
04How should Hibiscus cooperi ‘Cooperi’ be pruned?
Pinch Hibiscus cooperi ‘Cooperi’ lightly while it is actively growing to encourage branching. Avoid hard pruning immediately before winter or while the plant is stressed.
05What if an entirely green shoot appears?
Remove it at its point of origin. With more chlorophyll it often grows faster and can dominate the variegated crown.
06What will Hibiscus cooperi ‘Cooperi’ look like in winter?
Hibiscus cooperi ‘Cooperi’ must not be exposed to frost. Move the pot into a very bright space before nights turn cold, reduce watering as growth slows and keep it away from cold draughts.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.