tropical seeds?

i am wondering if any one can tell me about tropical hibiscus and seed production. i am interested in the hibiscus co-op that is running and would like to know if the tropicals produce seeds like the hardy hibiscus does? any help would be great.
TIA
--
nadi

nadi, I'm far from knowledgable about these plants. But from my experience with a few tropicals I have never seen seeds. Someone will come along and give you the right answer soon!

thanks brinda.

Nadi, Tropical Hibiscus can set seed - but it can be difficult to have the right conditions for the seed pods to mature. I had several seed pods on mine that fell off at the first sign of cool weather - - while others stayed on for a couple of months but never formed seeds. Also the seed will not produce an identical plant to the mother.

thanks so much.
so you are saying cuttings are the best way?

If you can find fresh seed ( I believe germination is much better with fresh seed on Tropical Hibiscus), they are easily grown from seed. But sources for seed are limited and most of us would have difficulty in getting ours to set seed. So, yes, propagation from cuttings is probably the best option for most of us.

"Most forms of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis do not normally reproduce true from seeds. (technically, a requirement for species classification). Therefore, most H. rosa-sinensis cultivars appearing in these lists, can only be multiplied through cloning. In other words, replication of the single original plant occurs through rooted cuttings, grafts of scion wood onto stronger rootstock, or tissue culture." - http://home.att.net/~SHA-IV/alistfor.htm#Botanical%20Concerns

thanks for the info and the link donna.
--
nadi