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Plant Profile

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Tropical Hibiscus, Chinese Hibiscus)

Hibiscus is a very popular shrub in our region with a glossy dark green leaves and vibrantly colored showy flowers, produced throughout the year making up for the fact that each flower will last only one or two days. Cultivars are available with single or double flowers in shades of white, pink, red, yellow, peach, or orange, or combinations of these. Growing best in full sun to dappled shade, Hibiscus appreciates abundant watering and fertilization when newly planted, but requires little care once established. They can be trained into hedges, but better to train into a less formal hedge with a hand pruner. Since plants flower on new growth, pinching the tips of developing branches in spring and mid-summer will increase flower production. Hibiscus is occasionally trained into a small tree with multiple trunks and will grow to about 2.5 m tall. Although usually strong and easy to grow, Hibiscus can be bothered by aphids which accumulate at the tips of stems, causing new growth to be misshapen. Aphids may cover the leaves with sticky honeydew.

  • Landscape Information
  • Botanical Description
  • Horticulture Management

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  • French Name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

    Pronunciation: hye-BISS-kus roe-zuh-sye-NEN-sis

  • Plant type: Shrub

  • Origin: China, Japan

  • Heat Zones: 1 to 16

    Hardiness Zones: 10 to 13

  • Uses: Screen, Hedge, Specimen, Mass Planting, Container, Wildlife

  • Size/Shape

    Growth Rate: Fast

    Tree Shape: Vase

    Canopy Symmetry: Symmetrical

    Canopy Density: Medium

    Canopy Texture: Medium

    Height at Maturity: 3 to 5 m

    Spread at Maturity: 1.5 to 3 meters

    Time to Ultimate Height: 10 to 20 Years


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  • Foliage

    Leaf Arrangement : Alternate

    Leaf Venation: Palmate

    Leaf Persistance: Evergreen

    Leaf Type: Simple

    Leaf Blade: 5 - 10 cm

    Leaf Shape: Ovate

    Leaf Margins: Serrate

    Leaf Texture: Leathery, Glossy, Coarse

    Leaf Scent: No Fragance

    Color(growing season): Green

    Color(changing season): Green

  • Flower

    Flower Showiness: Yes

    Flower Size Range: 7 - 10

    Flower Type: Solitary

    Flower Sexuality: Monoecious (Bisexual)

    Flower Scent: No Fragance

    Flower Color: Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, White, Pink

    Seasons: Year Round

  • Trunk

    Trunk Susceptibility to Breakage: Generally resists breakage

    Number of Trunks: Can be trained to one trunk

    Trunk esthetic Values: Not Showy

  • Fruit

    Fruit Type: Capsule

    Fruit Showiness: No

    Fruit Size Range: 0 - 1.5

    Fruit Color: Brown

    Seasons: Year Round


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  • Tolerance

    Frost Tolerant: Yes

    Heat Tolerance: Yes

    Drought Tolerance: No

    Salt Tolerance: Poor

  • Requirements

    Soil Requirements: Clay, Loam, Sand

    Soil Ph Requirements: Neutral

    Water Requirements: Moderate, Low

    Light Requirements: Part

  • Management

    Toxicity: No

    Invasive Potential: No

    Susceptibility to Pests and Diseases: Yes

    Pruning Requirements: Needed, to develop a strong structure

    Fruit/ Leaves/ Flowers litter: No

    Surface Rooting: No

    Life Span: 25-50 years

    Edible Parts: None

    Pests: Mites, Aphids

    Plant Propagation: Cutting

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