Hibiscus

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Common Name

Rosemallow

Scientific Name

Hibiscus

Plant Category

Perennial

Location

Northern USA, central Europe and Western Australia

Height

24-60 inches

Width

4-8 inches

Blooming Season

Spring to summer

Plant Habit

Upright

Color

White, pink, red, purple or yellow

Sun

Partial shade to full sun

Soil

Medium moist soil

Water

Moderate

Plant Characteristics

Hardy plants. Medicinal properties.

Usage

Usually used as border plants and grown in groups.

Information

Hibiscus is a large genus of about 200-220 species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae, native to warm temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. The plants have leaves which are alternate, simple, ovate to lanceolate, often with a toothed or lobed margin. The flowers are large, conspicuous, trumpet-shaped, with five or more petals. The plants bear fruits which look like a dry five-lobed capsule, containing several seeds in each lobe, which are released when the capsule splits open at maturity. Many of these species are grown for their showy flowers and many are used as landscape shrubs.

Growing Tips

Hibiscuses are heavy feeders hence fertilizers should be used often and lightly. They benefit best from fertilizers that include the trace elements such as iron, copper, boron etc. Water soluble fertilizers are good both for spraying leaves and for fertilizing potted plants. The plants should be spaced about 3 feet apart. When setting out plants, place the crowns or top of the root structures, 3 to 4 inches beneath the soil. To start new plants from seeds, sow early in spring; the new plants will produce only a few flowers the first year, but will come into full bloom in subsequent years. Because hibiscus clumps do not spread underground, the plants can be allowed to remain undisturbed indefinitely. Pruning is used to shape future growth, invigorate old plants, manage plant size and get rid of diseased and dead wood. While the tropical hibiscus can be pruned any time, probably the ideal is the earliest where the resulting tender new growth will be safe from cold damage.

Common Problems

Insects such as aphids, thrips, scale, whiteflies etc should be checked for frequently. Water plants thoroughly before using insecticides. It is usually best to apply in the early morning or in the evening when temperatures are below 80F degrees. For most insect problems, Orthene, a systemic, is widely used. Cygon, another systemic, is often used against scale and other insects. Products containing imidacloprid are excellent for controlling whiteflies.