As you head into winter, do not forget about the hardy hibiscus! This plant is just like its cousin tropical Hibiscus, but with more color.
It will bring life back to your garden when all others turn boring and grey in hue during these long cold months.
What is a Hardy Hibiscus?
Hybrid hibiscus flowers are the perfect addition to your garden. These colorful plants will thrive in boggy areas, like meadows and floodplains where they originate from!
Breeders have been hybridizing these plants for years in an effort to create the perfect blossom.
Today, there are dozens of cultivars on the market with blooms ranging from burgundy and pink to white. Also, the need for wetter soil was decreased during this hybridization process.
The Hardy Hibiscus plant
A single hibiscus plant can produce dozens of show-stopping blooms, each measuring up to 10 inches across. They only last a day or two before they wilt in the sun; however when one dies another bud opens for an endless succession that will brighten any garden!
I was blown away when an unassuming shrub-like plant burst into bloom and continued blooming through September. The color of these flowers is dark wine, which for me at first sight was love! I immediately had to have one in my garden; now three are thriving there with me as well.
Though the tropical-looking flowers are this plant’s main draw, its foliage is also quite lovely. Some varieties have rounded leaves with slightly serrated edges while others produce deeply cut and maple like leaves, that make an excellent burgundy coloration for fall displays in landscapes, or as borders around your outdoor space!
Hardy hibiscus plants can grow between 3 to 6 feet tall depending on variety.
Each plant produces multiple, upright stems that grow from the base of the plant during springtime. The clumps increase year-to-year as new roots develop and more blooms appear over time – though they’re not always showered with flowers right away!
Mine often doesn’t emerge from its root bed until May sometimes even later depending on weather patterns.
Perennial Hibiscus flowers
Also known as a dinner plate hibiscus, each individual flower is between 4 and 10 inches across. The blooms have five papery petals with the central protruding stamen that may be surrounded by an “eye” at its center; this variety has variegated colors ranging from light pink to dark purple or black!
With the blooms on your flower plants, you can really jazz up a garden or patio with some interesting color.
Different types of flowers have different bloom times and shapes that will add an extra element of beauty for visitors to see.
How Hardy is a perennial Hibiscus?
Hardy hibiscus is a tough plant that can survive the low temperatures of winter (USDA zones 5-9, meaning it can survive temperatures up to -20 F).
It dies back to ground each year, so it doesn’t need any mulching through those months and will always have fresh new growth in spring!
Where to grow perennial Hibiscus plants
Hibiscus is a great plant for poor soils, but it also thrives in average soil. Amend the ground with compost before planting and make sure you water them well during dry times to keep this tough flower alive!
Select a site that receives full sun. A shady spot will result in stems too tall and lank, with flowers drooping under their weight of blooms- 6 hours is minimum but 8 or more are ideal!
If your plants are sprawled out due to lower light levels, consider using a peony ring or grow-thru plant support. Some varieties are more upright and rigid while others have rounded forms that require less space for their heights up keep them standing tall!
Choose which variety suits where you want it in order not only look beautiful but also stay healthy too.
Hardy Hibiscus Pest Problems
Though the tropical-looking plant is an easy one to grow, there are two pests that can become quite bothersome. Here’s how you’ll handle them if they’re a problem in your garden!
Japanese beetles:
Japanese beetles are a pesky insect that can do serious damage to your dinnerplate hibiscus. These shiny beetles feed on the foliage during summer, and if you find them there’s no need to worry because hand picking or using organic insecticides like Spinosad will take care of it quickly!
Just make sure not to spray when pollinators come around as this could be hazardous for them!
Hibiscus sawfly larvae:
It’s hard to miss these tiny green caterpillars which can be found on the undersides of leaves in early summer through fall.
They quickly skeletonize their host plant, rendering it very unsightly and are prone towards infestation with other insects or disease organisms that might cause even more problems for your garden!
Luckily, there are plenty of ways you could manage this pest, such as using horticultural oil, spinosad, or insecticidal soap.
Hardy Hibiscus Varieties
Hibiscus is a genus of around 110 species, containing both herbaceous plants and shrubs. These beautiful flowers come in many different colors like reds, pinks or purples to make your garden colorful year long!
Some of our favorite are:
- The ‘Disco Belle’ series
- ‘Brandy Punch’
- The ‘Luna’ series
- ‘Midnight Marvel’
- ‘Kopper King
I hope you’ll find a place for the hardy hibiscus. These resilient plants are powerful bloomers that provide a kick of color to your summer garden.
They offer endless possibilities in terms of plant pairing with other vegetables or flowers as well – don’t forget about them when planning out those flower beds this season!