Hibiscus

Hibiscus spp.

  • Showy blooms can reach 8-10″ across
  • Many cultivars available are hybrids H. moscheutos H. coccineus
  • Provides nectar for hummingbirds
  • Cut back to 6″ after hard freeze

Hibiscus are large shrubs or small trees that produce huge, colorful, trumpet-shaped flowers over a long season. You can plant hibiscus in almost any location as they grow equally as well in soggy soil or typical garden conditions. It is a tough, low maintenance plant which makes it perfect for rain gardens. There are three types of hibiscus, the tropical, the perennial and the hardy.  When you are ready to buy hibiscus for your garden, we hope you will check out our list of hibiscus plants for sale.

Tropical Hibiscus:  Tropical hibiscus is native to Hawaii. It belongs to the Malvaceae family. They are identified by their shiny leaves, bright and vibrant blooms. Tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) are evergreen, or shrubs that keep their leaves all year. While tropical blooms are profuse, each bloom usually lasts only one or two days. Colors in tropical hibiscus are often salmon, peach, orange or yellow.  Tropical hibiscus need sunny locations and a well-amended, moist soil. When planted, they should be well watered and fertilized. Small amounts of complete fertilizers from April to September should be applied. Watering should be thorough but infrequent.

Perennial Hibiscus:  Perennial hibiscus is a name given to a large group of hibiscus which go dormant in winter and reappear during springs. Perennial hibiscus is cold and tolerant but some often die below 28 degrees, lasting for less than 5 hours and can be destroyed easily during infrequent cold snaps.

Hardy Hibiscus:  Hardy hibiscus is a member of the Mallow family. They are the largest hibiscus with showy flowers with 8 inches wide blooms. Hardy flowers are very hardy in colder climates. Hardy Hibiscus, members of the genus Hibiscus with more than 200 species, are deciduous. Their leaves die off in winter. They get back to the ground in winter and return in the spring. It is mostly available in white, pink and red colors. These flowers do not survive in hot, wet summers but live much longer in cool and dry climates. A hardy hibiscus is a late bloomer with green spots and continues to flower until the frost kills the last of the budsThey reach heights up to 15 feet and widths from 4 to 8 feet.

SPECIFIC VARIETIES WE CARRY:

Single – A single hibiscus is a large, conspicuous, trumpet-shaped, five petal flower. 

Double – A double hibiscus is an ornamental plant in the genus Hibiscus with more than five petals. The additional petals give the blooms a very full, frothy appearance that some gardeners may find aesthetically pleasing. Double hibiscus flowers can have layers of ruffly petals, causing them to look almost like peonies, or to have a more restrained appearance with subtler petal arrangements.

Dinner Plate –  Is a very tall, vigorous, sturdy, erect hibiscus typically growing 6 to 8 feet high and features dinner plate-sized, five-petaled, hollyhock-like flowers. It has beautiful bi-colored blossoms with petals ranging from red to light pink, looking very much like a pinwheel. Each flower has a prominent, pale yellow, tubular central steminal column.