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Hardy Hibiscus 
Unlike any other flower in the garden, hardy hibiscus offer us flowers that are both huge and delicate, as if they were fashioned from crepe paper. The flowers range from a petite 3 or 4 inches across to the proverbial dinner plate, 8 to 12 inches in diameter! In the center of each impressive flower you’ll find a prominent pistil and stamen structure that adds to their beauty. For years the only hardy hibiscus colors available were white, pink and red. Thanks to plant collectors and breeders, you can now select some incredible color variations that can be poetically described as hot pink, raspberry, mauve, dusty rose and plum. There is even one interesting new variety called ‘Cranberry crush” with nearly black buds that open to a scarlet red flower. The blooms of many varieties have a dark red center and a few have a ruffled edge. Others are bicolor or have attractive dark veins. While each bloom only lasts one day, hardy hibiscus is prolific, sometimes producing more than a hundred blooms in a season.
Traditionally, hardy hibiscus was large, rangy plant with large, rounded, medium-green leaves. Plant size now varies greatly, so be sure to take that into consideration when selecting a hardy hibiscus. Many of the new varieties offer smaller, lobed leaves and more compact plant habits. There are even a few with dark, reddish foliage.
Botanically these plants are Hibiscus moscheutos. They are native to marshy areas of North America and sometimes they go by the common name mallow. You may recognize them as close relatives of the not-so-hardy Rose of Sharon shrub, Hibiscus syriacus. They are in the Malvaceae family, which also includes hollyhocks and malva. The glossy-leaved tropical flowering hibiscus we love to grow on our patios in the summer is another close relative, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Unfortunately for us, it is only winter hardy in climates like that in Florida. As wonderful as they are, hardy hibiscus have one very frustrating quirk: they tend to be the very last plant to reappear in spring. In fact, many gardeners give up on them and dig them up. But it isn’t uncommon at all for hardy hibiscus to wait until late May or early June (when the soil temperature approaches 70º) to make their yearly debut. Looking on the bright side, this late habit makes them great companion plants for spring-blooming bulbs.
The Basics About Hardy Hibiscus
The hardy hibiscus is a perennial. They do have woody stems but they die back to the ground each winter, so they are considered perennials. They are reliably hardy in Zone 4 and, with extra protection, marginally hardy in Zone 3. Unless there is more than one plant in the same pot all the blooms will be the same color. That happens quite often with seed-grown hibiscus mixes such as Disco Belle and Southern Belle. Most hardy hibiscus are propagated from cuttings and sold as potted plants in two or three gallon containers. Only a few varieties are grown from seed. Hibiscus seed takes 2 to 4 weeks to germinate at 70-80º.
Since they get a late start in the spring, don’t expect to see many blooms before late July or early August. Once they start blooming, they usually keep blooming until a killing frost in fall. Once they break the ground, they grow very quickly. They can be planted as early as they are available in the growing season (typically in June or July) and as late as Labor Day. When planted any later, they may not survive the first winter.
Hibiscus doesn’t always look their best in containers at the garden center. If you know what variety you’re looking for, just pick out a healthy plant with as much branching as possible. The plants may have a few yellow leaves toward the inside. Don’t worry about those. It may also be a little lopsided or have a branch growing in a strange direction. Since the plant will emerge fresh from the ground next season, that won’t matter.
Hibiscus needs a minimum of 6 hours of sun each day. They tolerate a wide range of soils but to encourage them to do their best, plant them in soil with lots of organic matter. And ideally they prefer a slightly acidic soil pH. To increase organic matter and acidity at the same time, mix sphagnum peat moss into the planting soil. Work up the soil in the area and plant the hibiscus at the same level it was growing in the container. Soak the root system several times after planting. How big will the plants grow will depend on the variety. They can range from 2 to 8 feet tall and 2 to 6 feet wide. If you want an informal hedge, space them between a third and a half of their mature width. They work well planted as specimens or interplant with perennials. They shouldn’t need any staking, but they might the first year.
Ongoing Care of Hardy Hibiscus
Water: Until they are well-established hardy hibiscus require lots of water. Try to keep them consistently moist. After they have been in the ground for a year or two, they can tolerate both dry and moist conditions. Fertilizing: Feed them each spring with your other perennials using Bachman’s Garden Food 10-20-10 or an organic fertilizer such as Sustane™. They also benefit from occasional applications of a water-soluble fertilizer.
Winter Protection: After they experience a killing frost, hardy hibiscus can be trimmed back to about 12” above the ground. Once the soil is close to freezing solid, typically around Thanksgiving in the Twin Cities area, they should be heavily mulched with leaves, hay or straw. Pile the mulch at least 12 inches deep. Once we have snow, make a point of shoveling it onto the mulch to hold it in place and add insulation. Your goal is to keep them cold, not warm.
Pruning/Pinching: If you want to encourage better branching just pinch them lightly early in the growing season. Flower buds form on the ends of branches. Pinching too late may delay blooms. Otherwise, they shouldn’t need pruning unless they grow too large for their space. Once the new shoots have emerged the next season, you can prune out any old stems. Insect and Disease Problems: Unlike their tropical counterparts, hardy hibiscus is less prone to insect or disease problems. They may occasionally be bothered by spider mites. The hibiscus can be a potential target for the Japanese beetles.
Some Popular Varieties that Bachman’s Carries
Cranberry Crush has nearly black buds that open to 7-8 inch scarlet red flowers.
Fantasia is a compact rounded form with maple-like foliage. The flowers are ruffled lavender and about 8-9 inches across.
Fireball is fine texture green foliage with a purple blush. It has big large blooms on a sturdy compact plant.
Kopper King has large 10-12 inch white flowers with a bright red eye and red veining. Leaves have a consistent copper-red coloring.
Plum Crazy has maple leaf-like foliage that is tinged purple. The rose-purple flowers are 7 inches with a dark purple eye and a pale yellow center.
Summer Storm has large pink flowers with a magenta eye with dark purple maple-leaf like foliage.
Additional Bachman’s Information
Care of Newly Planted Plants
Success with Perennials
Understanding Your Soils
Recommended Products
Bachman’s grown Hardy Hibiscus
Soil Amendments
Fertilizer
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