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Growing Hibiscus
How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Perennial Hibiscus
How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Perennial Hibiscus
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The hardy perennial hibiscus, also called rose mallow or swamp rose, adds the beauty of a tropical hibiscus to the garden, but can withstand cold winter temperatures that kill the actual tropical varieties. Here’s how to grow hardy hibiscus in your garden!
Perennial hibiscus have big, disc-shaped, hollyhock-like flowers that can be 6 to 12 inches across. The perennial hibiscus species found in gardens are the result of hybridizing native hibiscus species, including Hibiscus moscheutos and H. coccineus.
The larger, more shrub-like hardy hibiscus species, H. syriacus (aka Rose of Sharon), has similar planting and care to the smaller species highlighted in this article. It produces an abundance of smaller flowers and grows into a much larger shrub that doesn’t die back to the ground in winter.
Planting
- Plants can be purchased from nurseries or started from seed.
- Seeds can be sown indoors 12 weeks before the last spring frost. See local frost dates.
- Soak seeds in warm water for one hour before sowing.
- Seeds can also be sown outdoors after the last expected frost date.
- Plant the hibiscus where it is not exposed to strong winds to avoid breakage of the long stems.
- Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart.
- Mature plants can be divided in the spring.
Care
- Mulch around the plant to retain moisture and to provide protection for the roots.
- Water plants deeply and thoroughly.
- To encourage re-bloom, remove old flowers before they form seed heads or prune plants back by one third after a flush of bloom is finished.
- In early spring, remove dead stems from established plants and apply a balanced fertilizer.
Pests/Diseases
Recommended Varieties
- Scarlet Swamp Hibiscus (H. coccineus): This plant, also known as Texas Star, has 5-petaled, brilliant-red flowers.
There are many wonderful hardy hibiscus hybrids available. Here are just a few:
- ‘Lord Baltimore’: Red flowers.
- ‘Sweet Caroline’: Pink flowers with dark centers.
- ‘Blue River II’: Beautiful white flowers.
- ‘Kopper King’: Huge pink blossoms with red centers. It’s named for its dramatic copper-colored foliage.
Wit & Wisdom
- The plant has been used to soothe headaches, aching limbs, coughs, and inflammations.
- Hibiscus tea is made from parts of a different type of hibiscus, Hibiscus sabdariffa—also known as Roselle or Florida Cranberry. It’s native to West Africa, but is now grown across Central America, the Caribbean, and even Florida.
- In Victorian times, giving a hibiscus blossom to a person meant that the giver was acknowledging the receiver’s delicate beauty. Learn about more about the language of flowers.
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Reader Comments
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Hibiscus pests
I'm surprised not to see the Hibiscus Sawfly listed as a pest in this article. This pest is a major problem in my area, and if not treated can wreak much more havoc than the pests listed.
Rebloom? Not in the north...
Perennial hibiscus bloom late in the season here in the northern latitudes, August through now, early September. Mine will be done in about a week. I always clip off the dried husks that held the flower, never saw a rebloom, not enough time in the season. Still, it's a stunning and beautiful addition to any garden if you have the room. Mine is the centerpiece. A late starter in the spring, but fills in fast by June. It's about 4' X 4' so be certain you can adjust for the full grown size, reached in about 3 years. I cut it to about 4 inches in November. I like the sticks and few dried leaves for Halloween! End of March, I cut the remaining 4 inches to the ground. Usually the sticks just break off easily. It's 9 years old now. Full sun is best. If it seems extra slow to get growing in the spring, give it a good drink for a few days in a row and it will take off.
Hibiscus
We have a large beautiful --until recently--red hibiscus. It is about 4 years old. 2 weeks ago all the leaves turned yellow and the next day all fell off. We now have a stick bush. WHAT happened. We are in AZ and have had a veery HOT summer. What should we do.
Perennial hibiscus
Unfortunately, neither of the photos in the article are Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos etc.), they are the tropical types. Hardy Hibiscus have very different leaves (shape, texture etc.) e.g., maple-like, thinner, not glossy and flower shape.
Growing hibiscus
I agree with this person...the picture in this article is a tropical hibiscus not a perennial hibiscus...Altogether separate plants and care...Please correct this information since not all gardeners have garden as long as some of us...I have been gardening for many years and have grown both kinds of hibiscus plants...I currently have several of the tropical ones in very large pots that bloom most of the year...
Thanks for listening.
Your information is correct just not for the picture that you show.
Linda
hibiscus
I can't remember where I got my hibiscus plants, but have had them for about 4 years. I bring them inside in winter (zone 5), cut them back and take them outside in the spring. They look like the pictures in the article...so what zones do the tropicals pictured in the article survive? Would like to plant them in a permanent location.
Thanks
Whoops!
You are correct! We’ve replaced the image with a photo of H. moscheutos. Thanks!
Planting Hibiscus
Having been gardening for over forty years I think I know how to plant shrubs. A few years ago I planted hibiscus in two different gardens. Both seem to be doing very well except that both plants are no longer upright. One I have straightened up using ropes. A friend of mine moved to a house which has a hibiscus growing in the garden. The hibiscus looks as though it is trying to climb out of the soil and has to be tied up for support.
What is it about hibiscus?
Outdoor Hibiscus
My Hibiscus is starting their spring growth.How do i trim them to form a less wide and more taller plant.It really gets wide and the limbs lean on the ground and sometimes snap off.This happens especially after a hard rain.Thank you Ethel
Hibiscus Tea is used by my son to control high blood pressure.
We need to know if Swamp Rose is the type that forms the buds used to make the tea from. Attempting to grow Hibiscus for the first time we need all information we can get. Please do reply E-mail address is above under my name. Thank you in advance. JS
HIBISCUS
I HAVE PLANTED THIS PLANT OUT DOOR.
HOW TO TAKE CARE IN WINTER?
Hibiscus not continuing to bloom.
My red Hibiscus leaves look as if something is eating them as the leaves have almost a mesh like appearance over the past month. What's up?
Hibiscus Damage
There are a few pests that could be causing this sort of damage. The most common is undoubtedly the Japanese beetle, though their population tends to peak in early to mid-summer. They are tough to beat, but they should begin dying off as fall approaches. In any case, look into purchasing a horticultural oil or neem oil, both of which will be effective against most insect pests. Follow the instructions on the packaging; you will likely need to reapply the oils every few days.
hibiscus lowers
I received a potted Hibiscus a few months ago. it had one flower in it, and it has not flowered
since. What do I do wrong. Please give me some advice
potted hibiscus not flowering
There are several reasons why a potted hibiscus might not be flowering. First, the plant needs to be in full Sun, no shade. Also, container plants need some supplemental fertilizer (food) because watering a container plant washes out nutrients. But do NOT overfertilize with nitrogen (which causes lush leafy foliage but at the expense of blooms).
Growing Hibiscus
I order hibiscus roots in December. Received the roots in May. I pot planted them end of May due to the amount of heavy rain we had. The leaves had holes so I removed some leaves. I put plant food to help them bloom. To date flowers have not bloomed. Can you tell me what I am doing wrong Thank you.
Hibiscus
Are the seeds in the pod after the flower
hibiscus seeds
Yes. Leave the flowers to die back. After the flowers are spent for the season, a brown pod will form at the end of the stem in the same place. The seed pod is quite large and obvious. When it starts to brown and break open at one end, collect the small brown seeds. Make sure to place them in a plastic baggie and seal it.
YELLOW FLOWERS,
Please, list yellow flowers, prenuptial please. Spring & summer flowers. Thank You.
yellow perennials
Hi Glenda, If you’re looking for yellow perennials, there are hundreds of choices. Examples of flowers that come in yellow: Rudbeckia Goldsturm, Baptisia, and Coreopsis. We would suggest you Google a garden nursery to browse which plants fit your growing zone! Here is an example: www.bluestoneperennials.com