I wouldn't think this...but maybe it was grafted and this was the root stock?

Hybrid hibiscus can easily revert to the mother parent, especially the new "specialty" hybrids. Evidently, it was crossed with a double red and something else, and this is the mother plant trying to come back out.

But like dbarron said, if this plant died back in a freeze, what you have now is coming from the rootstock. The specialty hybrids are often grafted onto stronger rootstocks.

I've never seen a tropical change it's bloom color but like dbarron said, maybe it was grafted.

And since it's not a hardy hibiscus, it's tropical (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) the reversion theory doesn't seem right.

While we did have a freeze it did not die back completely as i had it covered last winter. I had bought it especially for the colors as it straddles the line between my yellow section of the flowers and the red section...now its more of an orange red color not the true red of my red double ruffle thats in a pot in the back yard. It was a surprise to have this flower instead of what bought and yes it was one of those new mixes. The leaves are a tad thicker and wrinklier than my cheaper hibiscuses and growth is not as robust.

Well it's still really pretty. It's a beautiful dark coral color. I'm a fan!

popmama, these new "specialty" tropical hybrids are generally not stable, and are not cold hardy at all. Most people in FL consider them annuals, because you're lucky if the same blooms come back the next year. The blooms can even change depending on how much sunlight they get. They're fun, though, and if you happen to get one of the few stables ones that is grafted onto a hardier rootstock, you'll have a winner.

FWIW, I have a pink turk's cap and it has put out sports on a single branch. They were pink and red stripe - very pretty!

I have never considered a hibiscus an annual...they are way too pricy for that. This one is my first of the new hybrid i've tried. Its in full sun on the south side of the house. I planted it last year before winter set in. It gave me great blooms. Then it got cold i wrapped it up in sheets during dips into freezing so it would survive its first year and it did tho the cold definately knocked it back and it actually smaller now than when i bought it. But it looks healthy but throwing up a bloom that does not look like last year's bloom. Its been a bad year for my hibiscus so i am lucky this one is living as two other hibiscus i got near the same time have died.

My mistake, dirtygardener. I thought your original post called it a "hardy hibiscus" rather than a "hybrid hibiscus". I must have misread. So sorry!