Learn which hibiscus plants can handle a little cold ( and how to care for them ) and bestow colorful bloom to any garden .
Not many other summertime - blooming plant boast such large and bright colored flowers as tropic hibiscus ( Hibiscus genus Rosa - sinensis ) . They look dazzle through the summertime months and even into fall , making especially oculus - catching addition tocontainer gardens .
Unfortunately , tropic hibiscus cold tolerance is n’t mellow , so if you live in cold-blooded regions of the country , you ’d have to deal these beauties like yearly that last only for one season orbring them inside for the wintertime . However , there are other kinds of hibiscus industrial plant that are just as gorgeous as their tropic counterparts but much hardier , so they ’ll thrive year after year in northerly climates .
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Does Hibiscus Come Back Every Year?
Native to quick part of Asia and the Pacific Islands , tropical hibiscusis onlyhardy in Zones 10 - 11 , where the temperature by and large does n’t dip below freezing ( 32 ° F ) . That means it wo n’t exist outside in a wintertime that gets colder than that . This shrubby plant can outlive an casual frost , but its stems and leaf may die back a bit . As long as the roots do n’t freeze down , you may prune the dead parts aside , and new outgrowth will pullulate in spring .
In areas with retentive magic spell of freeze down weather , your best wager for enjoying the tropic flavor of hibiscus in your garden is choosing a hardy case , most of which can be grown where temps can get as low as -20 ° F ( Zone 5 and above ) . There are several hardy hibiscus specie , but the one with flowers that look most like the tropical specie in full term of colors , size , and shape is known asrose mallow ( Hibiscus moscheutos ) . Although this perennial hibiscus tends to blossom later on in summer than its tropical first cousin , some varieties can produce flowers as big as dinner party plates .
How to Grow Perennial Hibiscus
Similar to other recurrent works , rise mallow usually dies back all to the basis in winter . However , cut back the stems to a few inches in height inlate fall or early spring , and you ’ll see new shoot emerge when the weather warm again . Often , it ’s obtuse to push out fresh increase , especially during inhuman springs , so gardeners often occupy it ’s deadened . But be patient , and it should appear by late fountain or even other summertime .
Perennial hibiscus has interchangeable care needs to tropic hibiscus . Both plant willperform well in full sunand postulate plenty of water to thrive . It ’s good never to let the soil around either hibiscus dry out out completely , which often think irrigate them day by day . They might even demand a drink twice a day if your region is peculiarly spicy and dry or you ’re growing them in a container . supply aninch - thick level of mulchor compost around your hibiscus will also help the soil retain more moisture .
With enough water and sun , recurrent hibiscus will usually originate about five foot tall ( its tropic vis-a-vis can tower over 10 feet tall ) , but several smorgasbord detain unforesightful to about three or four foot . From belated summertime into fall , it willproduce beautiful bloomsin a wide range of pinks , reds , and pure clean ( tropic hibiscus produces even more colors , like yellow and purplish ) .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
In just about any region of the U.S. , you’re able to grow prominent , beautiful hibiscus flowers . bivalent - checkyour area ’s hardiness zoneto verify that you choose the tropical or stout type that can make it through your wintertime ’s bad atmospheric condition .
