How to Grow a Hibiscus Shrub (2024)

FAQs

How to Grow a Hibiscus Shrub? ›

All hibiscus plants grow best in full sun. Tropical hibiscus needs moist but well-drained soil. Perennial hibiscus grows best in moist soil that never completely dries out (this type can handle a bit more water than tropical hibiscus).

Do hibiscus do better in pots or in the ground? Smaller specimens will thrive either in pots or the ground when given the right growing conditions. Larger specimens will perform better when planted in the ground.

Location and Light

Hardy Hibiscus does best in full sun. They will grow in partial shade, but growth and flowering will suffer. If you live in areas with very hot summers, during the hottest part of the day, Hibiscus may need shade. Hibiscus should be planted along, or in the back of perennial flower beds.

Hibiscus needs a warm position in full sun, preferably sheltered from strong and cold winds. It prefers a well-drained soil that remains moist during summer. Hibiscus are perfect for growing in large containers of John Innes No 3 compost in a warm and sunny position.

Use your fingers or a trowel to loosen the hibiscus' root ball before lowering it into the new hole. Gently use your hands to push soil back around the plant, filling the hole and pressing down to eliminate air pockets. Water well after planting and keep the soil moist around the young plant.

Beginning a month after planting, feed hibiscus regularly with Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Bloom Booster® Flower Food, which was specially developed to encourage lots of colorful blooms. Using the Miracle-Gro® Garden Feeder makes feeding super-easy, but you can also mix the food in a watering can instead if you prefer.

Morning sun and afternoon shade would also provide good growing conditions. Hibiscus can tolerate full sun but in the heat of the summer, they might become stressed. In winter, Hibiscus needs the brightest room in the house. With enough light in winter time, they can bloom.

This plant comes up later than most perennials. Don't fret! It will return reliably every year. Leave the woody stems standing until spring, then cut them down to 6” tall.

Hibiscus are sun-loving plants, but they can't handle too much direct sunlight without getting sunburned. Choose a location in your garden that gets 4-6 hours of direct sunlight a day, and ambient sunlight for the rest of the time. Typically this would be on the west or south side of your garden.

The best time to plant Hibiscus moscheutos (Hardy Hibiscus or Rose Mallow) and Hibiscus coccineus (Scarlet Rose Mallow or Swamp Hibiscus) in the garden is in the spring after the last frost date. To get a jump on the season, seeds can be sown indoors 12 weeks before the last spring frost.

How do I keep my hibiscus blooming all summer? ›

The plant blooms best in full sun, so increase sun exposure if you think that might be a factor. Also, make certain the soil is moist at all times to support the growth of the plant. Hardy hibiscus blooms on new growth, but pinching the plants too late in summer or pruning severely can delay blooming.

These showstopping tropical blooms always make a big splash in the landscape! A bright red hibiscus plant is hard to miss, and the local hummingbirds and other pretty pollinators will certainly take notice. Some hibiscus varieties are edible, so you can brew those pretty red petals into tasty iced teas!

Trimming your hibiscus isn't tricky at all. For individual branches, locate the leaf node, a point that looks like bumps in which leaves emerge. Once you've found the leaf node, trim just above it to encourage the plant to grow a bushy growth right where you cut.

As a whole, plants in the Hibiscus genus are normally called shrubs. This is a safe bet, as most of the well-known varieties are considered shrubs.

Hibiscus, also called Rose Mallow or Wild Cotton, is a fast, strong-growing perennial. It usually grows to 5 feet tall, but in proper conditions can reach 8 feet in height. The plant grows about 3 feet wide, but does spread into larger patches with years of growth.

Another way to check is if the flowers are salmon, peach, orange, or yellow, or double flowered, then you probably have a TROPICAL hibiscus. Hardy hibiscus do not come in these colors or in doubles!

Hibiscuses may live up to ten years when using fourteen inch pots. Make sure not to over-water, try to keep your plant on the dry side. There plants like humid weather, so it is beneficial to mist the leaves daily, or use a humidifier.

Grow hardy hibiscus, not tropical hibiscus.

If you intend to keep your plants outside, hardy hibiscus will likely acclimate to the weather better. This type of hibiscus is hardy to USDA zone 4. Plant them during the spring, summer, or fall to get the best results.

Hibiscus plants prefer a cozy fit when growing in a container. This means that they should be slightly root bound in the pot. When you do decide to repot, give the hibiscus only a little bit more room. Always make sure your soil has excellent drainage.