| Description | ABC's of Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus x moscheutos) Hibiscus is not only tropical but there are many varieties that can live in zone #5. Be patient, they are slow to appear in the spring. |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Perennials Hardy, Site author's observations |
| Hardiness Zone | (4)5 |
| Sunlight | full, at least 6 hours |
| Moisture | once established can tolerate normal conditions, need to be kept well watered until established, the more water the greater the number of flowers and the larger the plant |
| Soil & Site | average, not soggy |
| Flowers | large crepe textured round flowers, 3-4 inches up to 10 plus inches depending on variety, many different colors form red, white, pink, cranberry, plum, mauve, raspberry, etc., last only one day, turn into a mushy mass on day 2 |
| Leaves | green to burgundy red |
| Stems | in zone #5 the stems die back to the ground |
| Dimensions | 3-8 feet high, up to 6 foot spread depending on variety |
| Maintenance | after the first killing frost cut back to about 6-10 inches, flowers wilt to a mushy mash the second day, if this bothers you they can be removed, sometimess staking of branches will help prevent them from breaking |
| Propagation | cuttings, hybrids will not come true from seed |
| Misc Facts | The size and number of flowers of this plant depends to a great extent on the growing conditions. The ones I have grown, usually fend for themselves. Will give additional water when needed. I drive past a planting of hardy Hibiscus where the gardener has supported the plants with a low decorative fence and waters on a regular basis. These plants are twice the size of mine with double the amount of flowers. A stunning display for their garden. |
| Author's Notes | Plants are hardier than many people think. In one of the coldest winters (2014) not one of my plants died and only lost a few at the garden center. In zone #5 they are very slow to emerge, I seem to get 3-5 years of life from these plants. |
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