Their colorful flowers can be as big as dinner plates.
Many have deep red centers.
Their blooms appear in mid-to-late summer, beginning in June and continuing into fall.
Credit: Jozsef Sandor Benkovics/EyeEm/Getty Images
According toThe New Southern Living Garden Book,hibiscus are “among the showiest flowering plants in Southern gardens.
They typically bear funnel-shaped blossoms sometimes as big as dinner plates and often with prominent stamens.
Themany speciesoffer an astonishing range of flower colors, and most bloom over a long season.”
Here’s how to grow them in your garden.
They thrive in full sun and don’t start growing until the weather is nice and warm.
As a wetland plant, hardy hibiscus can withstand soil that isn’t well drained.
Hibiscus is usually grown in the ground, but they also make a statement when grown in containers.
Soil
Hardy hibiscus is native to wetlands and creek banks around the Southeastern United States.
Hardy hibiscus can thrive in wet soil and does best in constantly moist soil that is organically rich.
The plant is somewhat salt tolerant and can grow near brackish water.
The soil can be loamy, silty, or partially sandy.
Plant it in a low area, along a pond, or in a container in rich potting soil.
Water
Give your plant regular, deep waterings during the growing season to keep the soil moist.
The leaves can scorch in the sun if the soil is allowed to dry out.
It requires less water during the rest of the year, particularly in winter.
This plant thrives in a hot, humid climate but requires good air circulation to prevent disease.
Sometimes that growth is slow to appear, so double-check to note where you planted it in the garden.
The plant you purchase may look small but grow very large by the end of summer.
The plant will freeze to the ground in winter.
Propagating Hardy Hibiscus
Hardy hibiscus can easily be propagated with cuttings during the growing season.
Start by choosing a container one size wider than the nursery pot.
Use one with a drainage hole so that rainwater won’t be trapped.
see to it to water your container regularly to keep the soil damphardy hibiscus requires consistently moist soil.
you could place a tray underneath the container to conserve water, especially during hot, dry weather.
Overwintering
This plant is hardy throughout the South and generally doesn’t require extra winter protection.
Cut stems back to a few inches above the ground after the foliage dies.
Pick them off and dunk them in a can of soapy water.
Pesticides are most effective on sawfly caterpillars when they are small.
Hardy hibiscus can be affected by leaf spots from various fungi.
Avoid overhead watering to reduce the spread and clean up and dispose of fallen leaves.
Also, make certain the soil is moist at all times to support the growth of the plant.
Hardy hibiscus can live for 20 years or sometimes longer.
Accessed August 15, 2022.
