Description
This large shrub or small tree grows to 15' high in frost-free climates. The toothed leaves are arranged
alternately and vary a lot, but tend to be large, dark
green, and shiny. This plant has a coarse texture and may
be upright or broad and spreading. It is often
many-stemmed. Flowers are glorious and huge at their best
-- up to 6" in diameter -- and occur in many colors.
Most are flared and have a bell shape and may be single
or double, smooth or scalloped. They have a long central
tube with stamens and pistils at the tip.
Location
Native to southern Asia.
Culture
Deep, moderately fertile, well drained, and slightly
acidic soil is ideal. Regular pruning is necessary in
most cases to shape and control size, and to remove
unwanted stems. Light: Sun or very high, partial shade. Moisture: Fairly moist. Hardiness: USDA Zones 9-10. Propagation: Cuttings, grafts.
Usage
Use as a foundation plant around houses and buildings in
frost-free areas. The hibiscus is underused as a tree
form. For a spectacular flowering tree, limb up at the
base and allow to grow as it will! In colder areas, the
hibiscus makes a wonderful summer plant that can be used
as an annual or containerized and greenhoused in
wintertime.
Features
Large, showy flowers almost all year! This writer’s
grandfather specialized in grafting various colors of
hibiscus onto the same shrub. Traffic would stop to check
out the red, white and blue flowers all on the same shrub
in the front yard. Anyone interested in attracting
hummingbirds should have a hibiscus; many types of
butterflies are attracted as well, including Cloudless
Sulfurs, blues, and Gulf Fritillaries.
hc 08/15/97; updated 4/26/06
Copyright 1996 - 2008
Floridata.com LC
Tallahassee, Florida USA
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Description
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