Hibiscus how fast do they grow

These factors include the location where it is planted, how it is propagated and the type of weather conditions that normally occur. Some varieties of hibiscus require as long as 18 months to produce flowers.

If the hibiscus is purchased as a mature plant, it normally will bloom the same year it is planted. Hibiscus plants do best in soil that is well-drained. These flowers need to be constantly damp but not soaking wet. If the soil is not rich, compost can be mixed in with the soil used to fill the hole. Hibiscus need to be planted in areas that receive full sun. They also do well in containers that can be placed in full sunlight for several hours every day.

The hibiscus plant can be planted at any time during spring, summer or fall. These plants need to be spaced from 3 to 6 feet apart. The hole needs to be only as deep as the root ball. The width should be 2 or 3 times the width of the root ball. Because the petals are deeper colored on one side, the blossoms have a pinwheel effect. Plants grow up to six to eight feet tall. Confederate Roses Hibiscus mutabilis : These large shrubs grown as very tall perennials in most of the state.

Near the coast they will leaf out on old stems, but in most areas, the tops will die back and the plant will regrow each spring from the base. Oddly enough, Confederate roses are not native to the South but come from China. They thrive in the South anywhere that they have time to open their very late flowers before fall frost. This species is a popular passalong plant. There are several color forms, including one commonly called Blood on the Rose, which opens white and changes to a deep pink that is almost red by the second day after opening.

A double pink type is also common, but double white, and single pinks and whites are also seen. The four to. Confederate Rose is an old favorite passalong plant. Confederate Rose is an eye-catching foliage plant even before bloom, with large, soft, gray-green leaves. Confederate Roses are often rooted in damp sand during winter cuttings taken in fall. Cuttings 12 to 18 inches long are very easy to root in a bucket of damp sand, stored in a cool, but not freezing area such as a garage through the winter.

Success rates may be even higher from spring taken cuttings. Great Rose Mallow Hibiscus grandiflorus : Large, felty grey leaves on eight foot stalks, topped with 10 inch wide, light pink flowers in late summer. Like those of the scarlet swamp hibiscus, flower petals do not overlap. It is native to brackish wetlands in the Southeast, and can be grown where other plants succumb to salty soil.

The two hibiscus most commonly grown as annuals are not true annuals, but tropical shrubs that thrive outdoors during hot South Carolina summers. They are grown as container plants. Chinese Hibiscus Hibiscus rosa-sinensis : This tropical shrub that is often grown outdoors in the summer and as a houseplant in winter. It is not hardy in any part of South Carolina, but can be brought inside to a bright, sunlit area for the winter and planted out each spring.

Chinese hibiscus are ideal for use as seasonal container plants. The flowers are available in many colors, ranging through the entire spectrum except blue. The yellow, apricot and orange varieties provide colors not seen in hardy perennial hibiscus. Flowers are typically four to eight inches wide, and may be single or double. Move Chinese hibiscus outside after all danger of frost is past.

Be sure to acclimate plants gradually to the increased light and lower temperatures outside. They prefer rich, well drained soil with plenty of organic matter, in full sun or light afternoon shade. Water the plants freely during the growing season, and fertilize with either a time release fertilizer every eight weeks or with a water soluble fertilizer every two weeks.

To keep mature plants growing vigorously prune old wood back by about one third in spring. This hibiscus is a tropical shrub, grown as an annual for the beauty of its deep burgundy red, maple like leaves.

It can reach five feet tall by the end of summer. Purple flowers may appear late in the growing season. Plant outside after danger of spring frost, in full sun in well drained, moist garden soil. Propagation is mainly through seed planted in the spring. Red Leaf Hibiscus is grown mainly for foliage color. Flower of an Hour Hibiscus trionum : This true annual that is more a curiosity than a truly ornamental plant.

It grows about two feet tall, with two inch wide, white to pale yellow blooms with dark centers. The flowers close in shade and typically bloom for only a fraction of a day. It is easily grown from seed, and may self-sow and return each year, sometimes to the point of weediness. There are many ornamental plants closely related and similar in appearance to hibiscus. These include hollyhocks Alcea , mallows Malva and Kosteletzkya species and okra Abelmoschus esculentus.

Hollyhock Alcea rosea : Hollyhock is one of the most popular old-fashioned cottage garden flowers, with a distinctive upright pillar of large, brightly colored blooms for a few short weeks in summer.

Hollyhocks are biennials, with young plants appearing from seed in late summer or fall and blooming the following summer. Plants typically grow from three to six feet tall, but eight foot tall giants are not unusual, especially if grown in rich, well drained soil with ample moisture. Flowers range from three to five inches wide, and come in a full spectrum of colors. Hollyhock rust is the main problem affecting these plants. Newer varieties are less susceptible to rust.

Use a clean, sharp knife to cut a piece of the root mass away that is attached to the targeted stems, being careful not to disrupt the connection between root and stem. Trim any diseased or dead root mass away, and replant or pot and fertilize with transplant fertilizer.

If replanting in a bed, prepare the site as described below. Repot in a bigger container or trim roots back whenever plants become root-bound. You can learn more about dividing perennials in our guide. Hardy hibiscus species are usually found in the wild near wetlands or rivers, which explains their love of moist, relatively rich soil.

Sandy or poor soil should be amended with a couple of inches of compost worked in 8 inches deep before planting. Plant them in full sun to encourage maximum bloom — though in hot, sunny climates you should consider arranging them so they get a bit of shade, with a maximum of 6 hours of sun per day. If they get too much shade, however, they tend to develop long, leggy stems and may not flower well or at all.

Although these plants tolerate heat and humidity, the soil must be kept moist, and they prefer their roots to be protected with a good layer of mulch. I usually use a balanced slow-release organic fertilizer on my entire garden — NPK, for example — twice per year, but my soil is fairly rich. Sandier and less rich soils may require fertilizer up to four times per year, until you build up nutrient levels.

Make sure not to over-fertilize as this can cause toxicity and lead to imbalances. Acquiring a home soil test kit or sending your soil off to a testing lab will give you an idea of how to balance nutrient levels with the right fertilizer. Generally, hardy hibiscus requires a lot of potassium, only a bit of phosphorus, and a moderate amount of nitrogen in most soils.

An NPK of , , or may work to amend soil that is poor in all nutrients, for example. Be careful not to overdo it, though — too much phosphorus will also reduce blooming, and can damage or even kill your plants. In areas with wintertime temperatures below freezing, make sure plants have 3 to 4 inches of mulch to protect the roots over the winter.

Be patient in the spring, as hardy hibiscus is usually one of the last plants to come up, sending out its first new growth in May, or even June. As alluded to above, there are now many cultivars to choose from based on your climate, space availability, and aesthetic preferences.

Check out our 37 favorite hibiscus varieties here , for more interesting and colorful cultivars to choose from. Tolerant of moderately moist to wet soils, they are early flowering and grow in Zones , growing 5 feet in height and width. Plants are available at Burpee. Rounded plants with flowers from top to bottom grow in Zones and reach feet in height with a spread of feet. As an infertile hybrid, it does not produce seeds.

It grows in Zones to a height of feet and with a spread of feet. Learn how to build your own deer fence with our DIY tutorial. Hardy hibiscus can suffer insect damage to both its leaves and flowers, and there are numerous strategies for dealing with these. My personal preference is to create a diverse ecosystem with predator habitat to encourage beneficial insect populations , and to employ integrated pest management. You can read more about dealing with aphids in the garden here.

Scale is a soft bodied sapsucker with no limbs, and it is related to aphids. These hide under rounded waxy scales on the underside of leaves. The species commonly affecting hibiscus is black scale, though other colors and varieties may be found too.

Scale can also be treated with insecticidal soap. Read more about treating scale infestations here. Another relative of aphids, whiteflies spread rapidly if left unchecked and can be hard to control. Neem oil-based insecticides can be used on the foliage, and affected leaves should be removed diligently and destroyed.

Read our guide on whitefly control for more information. These plants may be susceptible to botrytis blight, leaf spot, and rust, all of which affect the leaves, as well as canker, affecting the stems and branches, and root rot.

Aboveground fungal diseases can be prevented by avoiding splashing water on leaves when watering. Affected parts should be removed from the garden and not composted, but instead burned or otherwise disposed of away from your gardens to avoid the spread of the disease.

Since most varieties tolerate wet — but not permanently waterlogged — soils, they do well near water features or in damp spots. Larger varieties make an excellent late-season backdrop, while smaller varieties are wonderful specimen plants to draw attention near balconies or walkways. Late in the season when there are fewer flowers blooming, hardy hibiscus can add a brilliant boost of extravagant color to your gardens.

Though known for its flowers, the hardy hibiscus has some beautiful foliage shapes and colors that add their own interest to your landscape as well, from deep green hearts to burgundy maple-like leaves.

What varieties have you tried? And for more information about growing flowers in your garden , check out these guides next:. See our TOS for more details. Product photos via Burpee. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. With additional writing and editing by Allison Sidhu. While studying journalism in college in , Trent Rhode stumbled upon the world of gardening while working on an assignment.

He has been captivated by walnut trees, kiwi vines, daylilies, and the ecology of gardens and farms ever since.