If you’re dreaming of sandy beaches and palm trees, few flowers provide more of a tropical flair than hibiscus. Canna lilies, plumeria, and bougainvillea put on a great show but the dinner plate-sized blooms of hibiscus are like a neon sign flashing “look at me!”
Summer heat and humidity can certainly make it feel as if we live in the tropics so why not add a flower that will match the “feel” with a stunning display. These sun-loving plants feature bold, plate-shaped flowers in a dazzling array of colors. You’ll most commonly find these flowering plants blooming in shades of red, pink, yellow, and orange, but there are also purple, lavender-blue, white, and bicolor varieties available. Some also have variegated foliage that adds appeal.
Tropical hibiscus are summer-blooming plants that grow well in containers or in the landscape. They add dramatic décor to decks, patios, and other spaces. One of my prized additions to my patio containers this year is a variety called Cajun Paprika. I bought it at a local nursery and waited and waited for it to bloom. When it did, I was absolutely amazed. Isn’t she beautiful?
While I am partial to the tropical hibiscus, which with proper planning can be overwintered in your home, garage, or greenhouse, there are also some beautiful varieties of perennial hibiscus which are perfect in your landscape and are cold hardy down to zone 4. There are two groups of these perennials, one is in the Rose Mallow family, the other is referred to as Rose of Sharon or Confederate Rose.
We have several that form a “fence” if you will, separating our backyard and that of our backdoor neighbor. They put on a lovely display from summer to fall.
I usually prune them back in early spring to keep their height at around 6′ or so. They also get a little shade from the hottest part of the late afternoon sun.
While my perennial hibiscus puts on a display in the landscape, the tropical varieties are tailor-made for containers. This allows you to move the hibiscus plant to ideal locations, depending on the time of year. Provide the plants with at least six hours of sunlight, especially if you want to see those lovely blooms. Although warm, humid conditions are ideal for tropical hibiscus, you may want to provide a little afternoon shade when it’s overly hot. Again, containers make this easy to do. Hibiscus plants prefer a cozy fit when growing in a container. This means that they should be slightly root bound in the pot and when you do decide to repot, give the hibiscus only a little bit more room. Always make sure that your growing hibiscus plant has excellent drainage.
Caring for hibiscus
When hibiscus are in their blooming stage, they require large amounts of water. Your hibiscus will need daily watering in warm weather. But once the weather cools, your hibiscus needs far less water, and too much water can kill it. In the winter, water your hibiscus only when the soil is dry to the touch.
A growing hibiscus plant needs lots of nutrients in order to bloom well. In the summer, use a high potassium fertilizer. You can either use a diluted liquid fertilizer once a week, a slow-release fertilizer once a month, or you can add high potassium compost to the soil. In the winter, you don’t need to fertilize at all.
These are the basics for how to care for hibiscus plants in your garden. As you can see, they are an easy-maintenance, high-impact flower that will make a garden in any part of the world look like a tropical paradise.
Summer flower fest
The hibiscus smiles full face,
Sensing she’s the best.
Gerard Winslow
