Research > Hibiscus Breeding at the Texas A&M AgriLife Center, Vernon

Summary

Welcome to the online home of one of the world’s largest hibiscus breeding programs. On this page you will find a gallery of unique hybrids developed in our programexisting varieties, information about hibiscus events, news about developing hibiscus varieties, opportunities to engage with the breeding program at Vernon and information on where to purchase hibiscus varieties bred here. 

Hibiscus Focus: Winter-Hardy and Tropical Varieties 

The forage and ornamental plant breeding group at Vernon focuses on breeding hibiscus varieties that thrive across the varying array of Texas climates, which replicate most of the climatic conditions found across the globe. Hibiscus breeding efforts at Vernon have focused on creating as much genetic variability as possible to achieve new flower and plant characteristics. The breeding program accomplishes this by hybridizing species of hibiscus in both winter-hardy and tropical varieties.  

Winter-Hardy Hibiscus Breeding 

Since its inception in 2010,  the hibiscus breeding program has evaluated more than 20,000  winter-hardy hybrids and developed more than 470  unique lines — many of which continue to undergo evaluation by our commercial partners. Several varieties are available on the market now. The Vernon program was the world’s first to develop a blue-flowering winter-hardy hibiscus hybrid called Blue Angel. The group has now created roughly 20 other blue hibiscus lines based on the genetics of this cultivar. They boast improved flower color, increased flower size and more compact plant shape. Other novel colors developed by program breeders include maroon, magenta, purple, mauvefuchsiasalmon and many dual and triple-colored combinations. Our goal for the future is to create winter-hardy hybrids with yellow and orange flower colors.  

Select Winter-Hardy Hibiscus Developed at Vernon

Tropical Hibiscus Breeding

Established in 2014, the newer tropical hibiscus breeding program at Vernon has evaluated close to 1,500 tropical hybrids and developed 160 unique lines for commercialization. These experimental lines continue to undergo evaluation by the program’s industry partners. The main objectives in developing new tropical hibiscus varieties include creating new flower and foliage colors and shapes, as well as plants with compact growth, which would suit smaller gardens and patio or container applications.

Tropical Hibiscus Developed at Vernon

Select Hibiscus Science Publications 

 

Phenotypic Similarities in Flower Characteristics Between Novel Winter-Hardy Hibiscus Hybrids and Their Tropical Relatives. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2019. Please link the title to: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2019.01528/full

Publications by Dr. Malinowski at TAMU Scholars

Dariusz Malinowski, Ph.D.

Photo of Dariusz Malinowski

Download Malinowski’s CV

For information on licensing any of these plants, contact Janie Hurley at jhurley@tamu.edu or (979) 845-6337.

Team Members

Taylor Fox, Research Technician I