Alyogyne huegelii Delightfully

Alyogyne Delightfully is a variety of Australian blue Hibiscus with delightful and generous flowering. The flowers of this hybrid are delicately iridescent, a pinkish mauve, adorned with a very dark throat. Diaphanous, they are ephemeral but renew themselves over a very long period on a beautiful bushy shrub dressed in finely cut foliage. Originally from Australia, it is a very pretty plant for sunny coastal gardens, including those with dry soil. Gardeners in more continental climates may cultivate it in a large pot on the terrace or balcony, storing it indoors during winter.

Alyogyne 'Delightfully' is a horticultural hybrid of uncertain origin, likely derived from different Alyogyne species. All of these plants, commonly called Australian blue hibiscus, belong to the Malvaceae family, just like bush mallows and mallow plants. In nature these shrubs are found on the coast, often in sandy soils. Quite adaptable, the blue hibiscus tolerates clay, limestone and granite, but absolutely requires a well-draining soil where water does not stagnate, both in winter and summer. It can withstand brief frosts down to around -5°C (23 °F) if the soil is dry in winter. Flowering is triggered by daytime temperatures equal to or above 20°C and continues as long as the soil is slightly moist. The vegetation is bushy and the persistence of the foliage will depend on the severity of the winter.

With very rapid growth, Alyogyne 'Delightfully' reaches a height of about 1.50m (4 in 11 ft) in just a few months with an almost equivalent width in open ground. In a pot, it will remain somewhat smaller, around 1m (3 in 4 ft) to 1.20m (3 in 11 ft) in all directions. Each flower, about 12cm (4.7 in) wide, is composed of 5 iridescent-textured petals, light mauve in colour, slightly overlapping, arranged in cups. The centre of the corolla, dark purple in colour, is occupied by numerous short stamens with yellow anthers, surrounding 5 longer and partially fused styles, pink-red in colour. Like all plants in the Malvaceae family, the flowers last no more than a day or two, but are produced continuously for nearly 4 months. The abundant foliage consists of leaves 5 to 7cm (2 - 2.8 in) long, thick, divided into 3 to 5 irregular lobes, glossy, and of a bright green colour. To maintain a compact shape we recommend pruning it in March, and also lightly during the growing season. This Alyogyne is a short-lived plant, lasting about 8 years.

Alyogyne should thrive in a coastal garden, without watering, in well-drained, even dry soil in summer and winter. It is essential to protect it from winter humidity. It can be planted in a shrub bed or a large rockery. To accompany it, consider cistus, rosemary, Westringia, tall lavender, bush sage, and Leucophyllum frutescens. These plants, which appreciate the same growing conditions, will create beautiful scenes in combination. It can be cultivated in a large pot, allowing the plant to be sheltered in a bright, unheated room during winter, while significantly reducing watering.