Summerific® Ballet Slippers™ Rose Mallow

Summerific® ‘Ballet Slippers’ bears large, ruffled white flowers with a deep red eye and blush-pink petal edges above a polished, upright clump of bright green foliage. It grows about 4 feet tall and 4½–5 feet wide, bringing long-lasting color to sunny borders from midsummer into early fall. [Walters Gardens](https://www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=HIBBS) and [Proven Winners](https://c5.provenwinners.com/plants/hibiscus/summerific-ballet-slippers-rose-mallow-hibiscus-hybrid) identify this distinct Summerific® selection and its garden profile. ## Flowers and form The roughly 7 in. blooms show a white center, red eye, and soft pink edging; the upright, shrub-like clump carries many buds over a long season. U.S. plant patent PP29896 issued November 27, 2018. Proven Winners lists USDA zones 4–9, while Walters Gardens gives a 4 ft. height and a 4½–5 ft. spread. ## Site and water Choose part sun to full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Average water is suitable, with more consistent moisture helping maintain lush foliage and large flowers. The cultivar is listed for bog conditions as well as borders and focal plantings, and its blooms attract bees and hummingbirds. Its North American native heritage and hardy perennial habit give structure to late-season plantings. ## Maintenance Deadheading improves appearance but is not required for continued bloom. Mulch new plantings through their first winter. Leave old stems standing in fall, then cut them back in spring before new shoots emerge; hardy hibiscus can be slow to wake after winter. Deer resistance is noted by the breeder.