Development of a New Hibiscus Cultivar ‘Daewangchun’ with Vigorous Growth and Unique Red Eye through Interspecific Hybridization

A new Hibiscus cultivar ‘Daewangchun’, having vigorous growth, uniform plant habit, upright, compact branches, and a long red eye was developed through interspecific crosses between H. syriacus ‘Samchully’ (♀) and H. sinosyriacus ‘Seobong’ (♂). The Hibiscus breeding program was initiated in 2005 and Hibiscus × ‘Daewangchun’ was preliminarily selected as ‘05-R-204’ in 2008 due to its vigorous growth and stable flower quality with rich pink flowers. The selected line w as further e valuated for different growth characteristics, leaf shape, leaf size, and flowering characteristics, as well as tested for distinctness, homogeneity, and stability during 2010-2012. The new cultivar ‘Daewangchun’ had violet pink flowers (RHS N80C) with a long red eye spot, medium size and fan petals. The size of flower was 12.0 ㎝ and size of the red eye was 3.0 ㎝. Leaves were 8.7 ㎝ long and 4.7 ㎝ wide. After plant characteristic evaluation for 3 years (2010-2012), 05-R-204 was registered as cultivar ‘Daewangchun’ (4731, No. of plant variety protection rights) in 2013. This newly developed cultivar ‘Daewangchun’ has tall vigorous growth and unique flowers with a long red eye and can be used as specimen plants in landscaping.