Getting The Most From Your Hibiscus Plants

In the pictures below, you will see 2 kinds of Hibiscus; the summer hibiscus, which can be planted with mulch farther north of zone 8, and the regular tropical hibiscus which can be grown as far north as the ground doesn't freeze. Note here that a killing frost will kill back to the ground the regular hibiscus also but it won't return as quickly as the summer hibiscus.

In areas with no frost, the regular hibiscus will bloom year round and so will the summer hibiscus but they are 2 different kinds of plants. Summer hibiscus used to be named plate size hibiscus in local circles as the blooms get plate size and are singles. Regular hibiscus in zone 8b the top height of regular hibiscus is usually 4 to 6 feet depending on water and fertilizer and sunlight. Both are beautiful but above the zone 8b, you will have to keep your regular hibiscus in a pot and take it in in the winter and out in the summer (the more sun the better) and don't forget ferterlizer and water.

Before the first frost, you make sure your plant is bug free and bring it into the warmth with a sunny window. It will slow up but will still keep blooming if your light is right. Inside remember not to over water, it takes less.

There are numerous colors of both summer and regular hibiscus and all are beautiful. You don't find very many doubles and triples above zone 10 but they will grow just a great indoors as stated above. Most plant books aren't the place to look for the different colors of hibiscus but you can google "hibiscus plants" (or contact me and I will give you a few that I know are good).

The summer hibiscus will grow from seed in one season to blooming size but the regular has to be rooted cutting and still will give you bloom the first season on even a 1 foot high plant.

Happy growing. The white with pale pink edge is a summer hibiscus and the other 2 are regular hibiscus plants.

By gbk from South Georgia