About
Fast-growing, upright, almost unbranched annual or short-lived, woody-based perennial about 3.5m tall, with fine, spiny-stems bearing long-stalked dark green leaves, the upper leaves palmately lobed and those lower down on the stem unlobed. Funnel-shaped, pale yellow, occasionally purple-red flowers with crimson-red centres, produced singley or in racemes from summer to autumn.
About the genus
Hibiscus can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs, trees, annuals or perennials, with simple or palmately lobed leaves and large, funnel-shaped flowers over a long flowering season
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH2
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial, Herbaceous Perennial
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCoastal, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical
Care notes
CultivationMay be grown outdoors in mild, frost-free areas, or in large containers that can be moved indoors over winter. Outdoors, grow in neutral to slightly acidic soil in full sun, and mulch well over winter. Hibiscus need long, hot summers to flower well. Indoors, grow in bright filtered light with moderate humidity and good ventilation
PruningPruning group 1 if necessary, no pruning need if grown as an annual
PropagationPropagate by seed (sown indoors) in spring, or propagate by division in spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, scale insects, mealybugs and glasshouse whitefly when grown under glass
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely) and powdery mildews