Dinner Plate Size Blooms On Hardy Hibiscus

Hardy Hibiscus are one of my favorite perennials. They get your attention in a container or planted in the garden. With bright 8 to 12 inch blooms they cannot be overlooked. Bloom time starts in June and continues into Fall.

They require sun to bloom but appreciate afternoon shade in our Texas heat. Be prepared to water them daily – they are heavy drinkers. If they become wilted, they quickly bounce back after a good watering.

Hint: Once it gets HOT they will droop from the heat in the afternoon. We tend to overwater them when we see them this way. Here’s how to tell if they are receiving the right amount of water. Look at them in the morning – if they are perky, have no brown tips on their leaves then they don’t require an increase of water. If they don’t appear fresh and are developing brown tipped leaves then increase the amount or frequency of water given.

Winter care is easy too – after the first freeze the plant will die back, prune the plant to the ground and cover it with some mulch. They “wake up” later than most perennials in the spring, so don’t give up on them coming back. Once they break dormancy, they grow very quickly. They send up additional canes throughout the growing season adding width to the plant along with many more flowers.

The compact varieties are good for planting in the ground or in containers, giving you more options on where to add this “must have” perennial in your garden.

There are so many varieties available it’s difficult to choose a favorite.