Hibiscus
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (tropical) / Hibiscus syriacus (hardy)
📖 About this plant
A spectacular flowering shrub producing large, showy trumpet-shaped flowers in a stunning array of colors including red, pink, orange, yellow, white, and bicolors. Tropical hibiscus blooms year-round in frost-free climates, while hardy hibiscus provides dramatic late-summer blooms that can be 15-25 cm across. Flowers last only one day but are produced prolifically.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun (6-8 hrs)
Every 2-3 days
Moderate to high (50-70%)
18-32°C
Well-draining, fertile loam rich in organic matter; pH 6.0-6.5 for tropical; pH 5.5-7.0 for hardy types
High-phosphorus, potassium-rich fertilizer (10-10-10 or bloom booster) every 2 weeks during growing season for tropical types; balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring for hardy types
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Tropical: East Asia (China, Pacific Islands); Hardy: Syria, eastern Asia
- 📏 Max height
- Tropical: 1.5-4.5 m; Hardy: 1.5-3 m
- 📐 Spread
- 90-180 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer - Fall
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Red, Pink, Orange, Yellow
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Generally non-toxic to humans and pets; flowers are edible and used in teas and culinary dishes. Some pets may experience mild gastrointestinal upset from large amounts of foliage
- 🌱 Propagation
- Take softwood cuttings in spring or semi-hardwood cuttings in summer; root in warm, humid conditions with rooting hormone; hardy hibiscus can be grown from seed (stratify 30 days)
🛡️ Health & Safety
Generally non-toxic to humans and pets; flowers are edible and used in teas and culinary dishes. Some pets may experience mild gastrointestinal upset from large amounts of foliage
Common issues
- Aphids
- whiteflies
- and spider mites on tropical types
- Japanese beetles on hardy types
- Yellowing leaves from overwatering or nutrient deficiency
- Bud drop from temperature stress or inconsistent watering
💡 Care tips
- Produces large showy tropical flowers throughout summer
- Feed every 2 weeks with high-potassium fertilizer for more blooms
- Bring tropical varieties indoors before temperatures drop below 10°C
- Prune in early spring to encourage bushy growth and more flowers
