HOBBS, New Mexico (KOSA) – On average a hibiscus flower can grow up to 8 to 10 inches hut for David Anchondo he’s breaking records.
For the last 8 years David Anchondo has been growing hibiscus flowers, and after 8 years of growing. The new world record for the largest pink elephant hibiscus flower is 12 inches
“A Lot of people told me to put it in the Guinness Book of World Records so I did,” said David Anchondo, World Record Holder for Largest Hibiscus Flower
Anchondo has been studying plants and growing them for over a decade and during that time has grown thousands of plants.
But for this project for David, the hibiscus flower has been the most challenging since the average size of a normal hibiscus flower is between 8 and 10 inches. but for David, the flowers he grows are between 10 to 12 inches.
“It means a lot to me because I have been propagating and growing this flower for eight years now and they’re just amazing,” said Anchondo
The hibiscus flower originates from North America where it is predominantly located around swampy lands.
So to be able to grow these plants out here in this climate takes a lot of work. That has impressed Robin Needham a horticulturalist who was able to approve that the plant David grew is the largest of its kind.
“So David contacted me about three months ago and asked if I wanted to be involved with this project of getting his Hibiscus into the Guinness Book of World Records and I was ecstatic and thought it was incredibly amazing that someone in New Mexico was going to propagate this flower,” said Rachel Needham, Horticulturist
Just because these unique flowers are grown in Hobbs doesn’t mean they can’t be placed in your backyard.
“They love the west. You can plant them in that horrible west sun. I would not plant them in a shaded area. You can plant them as a complete border or you can just plant them periodically. They can grow in a pot for a season but then you will need to plant them in the ground” said Jan Otho, Casa Verde
If you want to see one of David’s world record-breaking hibiscus flowers you can see them at La Casa Verde in Midland.
Copyright 2023 KOSA. All rights reserved.
