Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube
    GardenBeast
    • All Articles
    • Sections
      • Features
      • Food
      • Plants
      • Flowers
      • Shrubs
      • Trees
      • Palms
      • Succulents
      • Cacti
      • Backyard
      • Reviews
      • Entertainment
      • Questions
      • Homesteading
    • Free eBooks
    • About
    • Contact
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube
    GardenBeast
    Flowers

    Hardy Hibiscus Guide: How to Plant & Care for “Hibiscus Plants”

    Read our complete guide to Hardy Hibiscus for everything you will ever need to know! Tips for planting and caring for Hardy Hibiscus Plants.
    Hollie CarterBy Hollie CarterFebruary 28, 2022
    Hardy Hibiscus
    Complete Guide to Hardy Hibiscus: How to Plant & Care for Hibiscus Plants
    Affiliate Disclosure: We independently test & research all products reviewed on the site. We may earn a small commission if you buy through one of our links. This does not affect our reviews or placement of products on the site.

    Are you looking to add some tropical vibes to your garden? If so, you might be thinking about planting hibiscus. No flower says “tropical” more than the regal hibiscus.

    With their large, brightly colored blooms, hibiscus is undeniably showy and add instant aesthetic appeal to a landscape. However, if you live in a northern location, you might think that you’re out of luck, as hibiscus thrive in locations where the weather is warm year-round, such as the tropics and the southern United States.

    If you’re a gardener who lives in a northern climate, you’re in luck, because there’s another variety of hibiscus that you can successfully grow: the hardy hibiscus.

    Over the past 100 or so years, the hardy hibiscus has become quite popular among gardeners in northern locations.

    If you’re interested in adding a touch of the tropics to your landscape, read on to learn more about the hardy hibiscus, including growing tips that can help to ensure the success of these showy plants.

    Hardy hibiscus
    Hardy hibiscus

    Hardy Hibiscus: An Overview

    Contents

    • 1 Hardy Hibiscus: An Overview
      • 1.1 History of Hardy Hibiscus
    • 2 Hardy Hibiscus Planting and Care Requirements
      • 2.1 Seed Planting
      • 2.2 Choosing and Preparing a Location
      • 2.3 Watering
      • 2.4 Feeding Requirements
      • 2.5 Pruning
      • 2.6 Cold Weather Care
      • 2.7 Pests and Diseases

    The name “hardy hibiscus” is blanket term that is used to describe a couple of different species, as well as their hybrids, all of which are a member of the rose mallow group of the Malvaceae family; the same family as the standard tropical hibiscus.

    Unlike their tropical relatives, which thrive in warm temperate, tropical and subtropical locations, hardy hibiscus, as the name suggests, are cold-hardy.

    There are a few dozen species of hardy hibiscus, and all of them produce large, eye-catching, showy blooms that can reach as large as 1 foot across (though the averages size is usually 10 inches,) making them the largest perennial flowers in North America.

    However, it should be noted that the genetic makeup of individual species, cultivar, or hybrid, the flowers the plants produce can be much smaller in size.

    Not only can the size of hardy hibiscus flowers vary, so can he color. Hues include vibrant red, white with hints of light pink, purple, and even blue.

    Regardless of the color or size, hardy hibiscus flowers usually feature burgundy- or red-colored throats. They can also feature streaks in a variety of colors that span to the edges of the blooms. Additionally, they also have a prominent pollen-covered staminal column in the center, a hallmark of all types of hibiscus.

    Hardy hibiscus can reach anywhere from 2 to 10 feet, depending on the variety. In warmer northern locations, all varieties start to bloom as early as June, but in cooler regions, blooms may not emerge until August and will continue to do so until the first frost arrives.

    According to plant taxonomy, hardy hibiscus plants are classified as Hibiscus moscheutos; however, they’re more commonly known as ‘swamp mallows’ and ‘rose mallows.

    During the summer season, all varieties have a woody appearance and serve as sub-shrubs; however, in the winter, the stems of the plant die back to the ground, so they’re technically a herbaceous perennial.

    Bestseller No. 1
    100 Giant Hibiscus Flower Seeds Hardy,Mix Color, DIY Home Garden Potted or Yard Flower Plant,
    100 Giant Hibiscus Flower Seeds Hardy,Mix Color, DIY Home Garden Potted or Yard Flower Plant,
    $6.20
    View on Amazon
    Bestseller No. 2
    10 Seeds Pink Purple Blue Hibiscus Flower Tropical Garden Exotic Perennial Hardy
    10 Seeds Pink Purple Blue Hibiscus Flower Tropical Garden Exotic Perennial Hardy
    $7.39
    View on Amazon
    Bestseller No. 3
    yunakesa Bush Hibiscus Midnight Marvel red Flower Hardy 2.5'' Pot = 1 Dormant Potted Plant
    yunakesa Bush Hibiscus Midnight Marvel red Flower Hardy 2.5'' Pot = 1 Dormant Potted Plant
    • 1 Dormant Potted Plant
    • MATURE HEIGHT: 48". MATURE SPREAD: 54". HARDINESS ZONES: 4,5,6,7,8,9. FLOWER: Mid to late season. SUN EXPOSURE: Full sun to part sun. SIZE SHIPPED: 2.5" pot. Plants are well rooted. Second photo is approximately what you will receive. (plants shipped to California may be bare root and trimmed)
    $44.00
    View on Amazon

    Last update on 2023-02-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

    History of Hardy Hibiscus

    Hardy hibiscus have existed for about 100 years, when breeders of plants started to work on developing hybrids of the tropical variety that could tolerate colder temperatures.

    According to Gretchen Zwetzig, the owner of Fleming Flower, one of the oldest flower breeding companies, breeding of the cold-hardy varieties really only started to become commonplace in the 1950s.

    Robert Darby is credited with being one of the first modern cultivators of hardy hibiscus. He successfully developed two of the first successful  hybrids, Lady Baltimore and Lord Baltimore, by cross-breeding at least four native species of hibiscus, including H. militaris (now known as H. laevvis), H. palustris, H. coccineus, and Hibiscus moscheutos. Lady and Lord Baltimore remain popular hardy hibiscus flowers.

    In the 1960s, Sakata Seed Corporation started to hybridize hardy hibiscus in Japan and they successfully established the H. Dixie Belle and the H. Southern Belle varieties. They also cross-bred the Disco Belle series in the 1970s.

    Fleming Flower, a Nebraska-based company, also worked on hybridizing the flowers. They successfully produced several varieties of hardy hibiscus, including the Kopper King, Old Yella, Fireball, Torchy, Dream Catcher, Fantasia, Plum Crazy, and Robert Fleming.

    Red Hibiscus Flower
    Red Hibiscus Flower

    Hardy Hibiscus Planting and Care Requirements

    In order to successfully plant hardy hibiscus, you need to make sure that you plant and care for these flowers properly.

    In this section of our guide, we share some important tips that will help to ensure your northern garden has a touch of the tropics with the show blooms of these herbaceous perennials.

    Seed Planting

    • If you are planting hardy hibiscus from seeds indoors, the best time to do so is three months before the last average frost date in Zone 6 or lower.
    • If you are located in zone 7 or a warmer location, you can begin your seeds indoors one to two months before the last average frost date, or you can sow the seeds directly in the soil after the risk of frost has passed.
    • Whether you’re planting them indoors or out, make sure to soak your seeds overnight before planting.
    • Set the soaked seeds about ½ inch deep into the soil. If planting indoors, start to harden the plants off as the last frost date arrives in order to expose them to outdoor conditions, including sunlight and wind, when the weather is favorable.
    • On the first day, bring them outdoors for about 30 minutes and increase the amount of time they’re outside by about 1 hour each day for five more days before you transplant them into your garden.

    Choosing and Preparing a Location

    • Hardy hibiscus do best in medium to wet soil that drains well. The soil shouldn’t be too heavy; however, these plants will not do well in sandy, dry, or poor-draining soils.
    • Therefore, if the soil in your garden is sandy or drains poorly, mix in a few inches of organic compost before planting your flowers.
    • In cooler climates (zones 4 to 6), hardy hibiscus will do best when planted near south-facing wall, where they will receive plenty of sunlight and are protected from wind.
    • If you live in a warmer climate, a location that receives about 6 hours of sun a day would be ideal; however, do note that if they receive too much shade, their stems will likely be long and leggy and their blooms may not be as healthy or they may not produce any blooms at all.

    Watering

    In the wild, hardy hibiscus grows in swamp areas. While cross-breeding has reduced the water requirements for many varieties, they do still need to receive adequate water in order to thrive.

    Make sure that the soil remains moist; however, you don’t want to water the plant too much, as doing so could lead to root rot.

    Smaller plants with less leaves don’t need to be watered as often as larger, leafier plants. During the growing season, hardy hibiscus should be watered on a daily basis.

    Luna Rose Flower
    Luna Rose Flower

    Feeding Requirements

    Hibiscus plants need a lot of nutrients when they are growing. To ensure that your plants receive the nutrition that they need, we recommend feeding them with a water-soluble or slow-release fertilizer; however, take care to ensure that the nutrients are well-balanced, as over-fertilizing can lead to toxicity, which can result in imbalances and severely damage or even kill the plant.

    A 10-10-10 or a 20-20-20 fertilizer will yield the best results. Alternatively, you can feed your plants with a diluted liquid fertilizer on a weekly basis, or apply a slow-release fertilizer to the soil four times per year: once in the early spring once after the first round of blooms expires, mid-summer, and early winter.

    Pruning

    Because the hardy hibiscus is a herbaceous perennial, it dies back to the ground during the winter. Therefore, you can prune the plant to the ground during the fall season, even though the branches may still appear to be healthy.

    Cold Weather Care

    If you live in a location where the temperatures fall to below freezing during the winter season, you’ll need to protect your hardy hibiscus to ensure they survive.

    To do so, apply about 3 to 4 inches of fresh mulch after you’ve pruned the flowers back to protect the roots from the frigid temperatures. Wood chips, leaves, or straw can all be used to shield the roots from the cold.

    If properly protected, hardy hibiscus will regrow in the spring. However, do be patient, as these plants are later risers. They usually send out their first signs of new growth in May or June (depending on the climate in your area).

    Pests and Diseases

    Hardy hibiscus can have issues with pests and disease.

    In terms of pests, deer like to munch on these plants. To keep them away, place fencing around your hardy hibiscus. Aphids can also be a problem, as they eat away at the leaves, the stems, and the flowers. Apply an insecticidal soap to the infected plants on a weekly basis.

    Hardy hibiscus can develop fungal infections, including rust, leaf spot, and botrytis blight. To prevent disease, avoid getting the leaves wet when watering.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticlePassion Flowers Guide: How to Grow & Care for “Passiflora”
    Next Article Black Eyed Susan Guide: How to Grow & Care for “Rudbeckia Flowers”
    Hollie Carter
    • Twitter

    Hollie is a life-long gardener, having started helping her Dad work on their yard when she was just 5. Since then she has gone on to develop a passion for growing vegetables & fruit in her garden. She has an affinity with nature and loves to share her knowledge gained over a lifetime with readers online. Hollie has written for a number of publications and is now the resident garden blogger here at GardenBeast. Contact her at hollie@gardenbeast.com or follow on twitter https://twitter.com/greenholliec

    Related

    Everything You Need to Know about Dried Flowers – A Complete Guide

    March 16, 2023

    Vinca Major Guide: How to Grow & Care for “Greater Periwinkle”

    March 16, 2023

    Centaurea Cyanus Guide: How to Grow and Care for “Cornflower”

    March 9, 2023

    3 Comments

    1. Patti Ann on September 5, 2020 8:09 pm

      My hibiscus has a ton of buds but they won’t open.
      Many have begun to open and then just fall off. I’ve only had one fully-opened blossom all summer.
      We’re in September and there are still a huge number of buds that aren’t doing anything. The plant faces the east so it gets the morning sun and really no shade before 3-4 in the afternoon.
      What do you suggest to get the buds to flower?

      Reply
    2. Lynn on October 7, 2020 4:01 am

      We’ve been extremely lucky with our hibiscus. We just plopped it in the ground and every year, around June 1 it starts to grow then in July and August in flowers nonstop. My question though, are hardy hibiscus edible?

      Reply
    3. Shelly on August 10, 2022 11:32 am

      I live in New Brunswick and winter is cold with a ton of snow, should I dig up hibiscus and move indoors?

      Reply

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    Welcome

    GardenBeast is an online publication which launched in 2019 with the aim of providing the latest news, in-depth how-to guides and reviews of popular products to help you make the most from your back yards and gardens.

    Kooc Media Ltd
    Company No.05695741
    International House,
    61 Mosley Street, Manchester,
    M2 3HZ
    UK

    Email
    hello@gardenbeast.com

    Hours
    Monday—Friday: 9:00AM–5:00PM
    Saturday & Sunday: 11:00AM–3:00PM

    Download Free eBooks

    Download Free eBooks

    GardenBeast
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube
    • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    As Seen in GardenBeast is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
    GardenBeast™ Copyright © 2019 - 2023 Kooc Media Ltd. All rights reserved. Registered Company No.05695741 // Online Resource for Gardening

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.