Ko Noordman: 'As a dwarf shrub, Hibiscus is perfect for small gardens' |
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Hibiscus syriacus is a popular shrub that flowers richly with brightly colored blooms in many variations. Two cultivars under the name Little Legends are a special addition. With their dwarf size, they bring the cheerful Hibiscus to small gardens, terraces, and balconies.
The 'Little Legends' selection originates from South Korea at a scientific institute, the Hibiscus Research Center. Dr. Shim worked there for over fifty years on a large number of Hibiscus varieties. Even for him, the white and pink 'Little Legends' are unique.
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'Unique to the selection are the compact size, small flowers, and short internodes'
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Dr. Shim, who has a background in genetics, collaborates with colleagues from several other institutes in the Hibiscus breeding program. He explains: "What's unique about the dwarf cultivars Little Legends Pink and White is that we managed to discover new characteristics such as the small size, small flowers, and short internodes. These traits were not present in the parent plants."
 | | Flower of Hibiscus syriacus Little Legends White ('Woojeon'PBR) EU 20231191 |
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 | | Hibiscus syriacus Little Legends Pink ('Samilhong'PBR) EU 20230974 |
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Dr. Shim's new discoveries were given South Korean names: 'Samilhong' for the white and 'Woojeon' for the pink cultivar. Dr. Shim: "'Samilhong' and 'Woojeon' are similar in their compact and elegant growth form and long flowering period. 'Samilhong' differs from 'Woojeon' with purple-pink flowers and broader, more lobed leaves. Compared to 'Samilhong', 'Woojeon' has a more compact shape, more abundant flowers, and larger leaves."
New developments
Since 2017, Dr. Shim has been collaborating internationally with Plantipp. He explains: "We conduct research on Hibiscus, jointly applying for European plant variety rights and U.S. plant patents. Our aim is to develop new Hibiscus cultivars with unique characteristics in the future—such as scented or yellow-flowering Hibiscus—through the hybridization of different variants."
While most Hibiscus syriacus shrubs can easily grow several meters tall, the Little Legends varieties remain compact, reaching only about 70 centimeters. This makes them especially suitable for small gardens or pots on patios. These shrubs bloom throughout summer and offer a lush appearance due to their abundant flowers. 'Woojeon' has white flowers with a red center and narrow petals, while 'Samilhong' bears purple-pink flowers with a red center.
 | | Ko Noordman with his son Lars at the nursery |
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A spot among the mother plants
Through mediation by Plantipp, the varieties were tested at Noordman Young Plants in Hazerswoude. Ko Noordman: "We received Little Legends on a trial basis to grow them. They've now been given a spot among our mother plants. If the varieties perform well, we'll already have strong mother plants from which we can take scions for grafting. That meant we could immediately get to work with the two Little Legends once we saw their quality."
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'For quality, we still rely on manual methods'
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At Noordman, plants are often propagated through grafting. "We specialize in labor-intensive work so customers don't have to do it themselves." Noordman says he still prefers manual labor: "We've participated in grafting robot trials, but for now we still rely on handwork to ensure our quality. We grow the grafted Hibiscus in open ground and supply them as young plants to nurseries across Europe, including in the Netherlands."
Smooth collaboration
Noordman also appreciates the collaboration with Plantipp: "We're in regular contact with Thijs Veldhuizen, but I also know the other team members and the owners well. The lines are short, which makes working together smooth and enjoyable. We're often asked to trial a new variety they think would be a good fit for us. That way, we always have something new to offer—and we've been able to make many clients happy."
The company offers various plant species, including a wide assortment of Hibiscus, Noordman says. "We grow both the traditional Dutch varieties and newly licensed ones. Little Legends are unique among other Hibiscus varieties because they're the only ones with a true dwarf size and compact growth. Like other Hibiscus, Little Legends are strong, healthy plants. This allows us to grow them organically. They tolerate both heat and drought well and are highly winter-hardy. They're suitable for many climates—from the warmer Middle East to the cold winters of Eastern Europe. That makes them very suitable for export within Europe."
Hibiscus breeding in South Korea
Dr. Kyung Ku Shim is professor emeritus at Sungkyunkwan University. He founded the Hibiscus Research Center and spent over fifty years developing at least a hundred new Hibiscus cultivars, many of which are now patented worldwide. He works closely with Dr. Im Gi-Byeong, professor at Kyungpook National University, and Dr. Ha Yu-Mi, associate professor at Sungkyunkwan University.
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This article was originally published on April 25, 2025 on the Boom In Business website.
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