Growing: Hibiscus
| Botanical Name: | Hibiscus |
| Life Cycle: | perennial |
| Planting Time: | spring or summer |
| Height: | 4' to 10' |
| Exposure: | full sun to very light shade |
| Soil: | rich well-drained soil |
| Hardiness: | zones 5-11 depending on variety |
| Bloom Time: | summer |
| Flower: | a dazzling variety of solid, variegated and striped colors; blooms ranging from 6 to 10 inches across |
| Foliage: | shrub-sized plants with green leaves and woody roots |
| Propagation: | seeds, cuttings, or purchase hybrids in pots |
| Suggested Use: | borders, beds, along walls or fences, accent plants |
| Growing Hints: | Tropical hibiscus needs a frost-free climate, while hardy hibiscus can grow in zones 5-11. If you have the patience, sow seeds indoors in late winter and transplant seedlings after your last frost date in the spring. For first year blooms, purchase plants from a nursery in the spring. Plants generally don't need dividing, but new plants can be started from cuttings taken in late summer and rooted indoors over winter. Space plants 3 feet apart with root crowns set 3 to 4 inches beneath the soil. |
| Pruning Tips: | Regular pruning keeps plants shapely and invigorated. New growth starts below any cuts made, so plan accordingly when stepping back to assess the plants overall shape. A good rule of thumb is to cut 1/3 of the branches back by 1/3 over the course of several years. Always use a sharp sheers so bark does not get stripped from the stem. Always leave at least 2-3 nodes or "eyes" (bumps on the stems where leaves used to grow) on each branch and leave about 1/2 inch between the eye and the cut. |
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By lori (Guest Post)
07/10/2007
my sister just gave me 3 bushes and i planted them but, they are not doing so well. i planted them in miracle grow into the ground and have been watering them daily. they are wilting away and it is killing me. what should i do? they were in sun and shade there and are here as well.
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By lori (Guest Post)
07/10/2007
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