Natty_Dread wrote:

Any comments or ideas would be most helpful. Thanks!

There are Hibiscus cultivars out there that are hardy in our area.
These are NOT to be confused with the tropical kind that are not hardy.
Last year, I planted a Hibiscus 'Crown Jewels', and it did great,
putting on a lot of growth and a dozen or so flowers. From what I
understand, they're late to break dormancy, and I haven't seen any sign
of it yet. Plant Delights Nursery has a pretty decent selection that
you might want to look into:
http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog...nt/page39.html

Suja