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 2 008 due to i ts v igorous growth a nd s table flower q uality w ith rich pink flowers. The s elected 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 cm and size of the red eye was 3.0 cm. Leaves were 8.7 cm long and 4.7 cm 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.