Hibiscus
The hardy hibiscus: fully outdoor, late to wake and late to flower — its show comes when most shrubs have finished.
Care
Full sun and a warm, sheltered position; it needs a hot summer to flower well.
Medium — water in dry spells in summer, especially when young, or buds drop.
Any well-drained, reasonably fertile soil.
Flowers on the current year's growth: prune in late winter or early spring, shortening last year's shoots by up to two thirds for bigger flowers, or just thin and shape.
A balanced feed or mulch of compost in spring.
Semi-ripe cuttings in summer, or hardwood cuttings in winter.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- MarchShorten last year's shoots before growth starts. how ›
- MayDon't give up on it: it's one of the last shrubs to leaf out.
- AugustWater in dry weather to prevent bud drop. how ›
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchShorten last year's shoots before growth starts. how ›
- MayDon't give up on it: it's one of the last shrubs to leaf out.
- AugustWater in dry weather to prevent bud drop. how ›
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Still bare in May.
What to do. Normal — wait before assuming it's dead.
How to spot it. Buds fall before opening.
What to do. Drought or a cold summer; water in dry spells.
Questions
Hibiscus: is it hardy?
H5: Hardy in most of the UK, but can struggle in the coldest inland or upland spots. It survives down to −15 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Yes in a large pot, but longer-lived in the ground.
Hibiscus: when do you prune it?
Flowers on the current year's growth: prune in late winter or early spring, shortening last year's shoots by up to two thirds for bigger flowers, or just thin and shape. In the calendar for UK, pruning falls in March.
Hibiscus: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in August–October.
When do you feed it?
A balanced feed or mulch of compost in spring. Feeding months, UK: April.