Red leaf Hibiscus

We had a freeze Wed night I covered everything with sheets but the wind blew the sheets off all of my red leaf hibiscus. We had temp in the high 20's. Tell me are they completely toast ? Should I just pull them out? Is there any chance they will be root hardy? This is my first year with them and I am really unsure what to do.

doubt it seriously. I also grow this and it is an annual. So weird because the trunk grew to be almost 1.5" think, you'd think they could take it, but not IME.

we had freezing temps last night, I'm scared to go see the damage. I did notice that a tropical hib. in the patio is looking mighty sad this morning.

Is this the one you have? BTW it is definitely hib. acetosella

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/671513/

Yep that looks like one of them. I am so bummed. You all probably got the same cold front we did. I wll not even beable to recover seed as mine was just setting buds :o(

same here with me. the day before the cold front, the fallen tree was covered with blooms. I just forgot to take a pic, now they're gone forever. Luckily, seeds are relatively cheap to buy and/or easy to trade for.

I do not have luck with seeds but will go and check Lowe's for some small plants. I so wanted to see a bloom on this one :o(

To be honest, I've had friends tell me, they saved the root and replanted the next year and the plants just don't do as well or look as nice. I would consider it an annual and start new ones each year from seed. They are really easy from seed and you might surprise yourself. :)

Everyone has told me to leave them be until spring but I hate how horrible they look right now. I think I will cut them down at least.

We got our's as a small cutting from Bob " JungleBob" this past Spring. I think it's the same plant as in this link ?
http://onaleeseeds.bizhosting.com/roselle_florida_cranberry_hibiscus_purple_leaves_pink_flowers_seeds.html
I've been waiting on hearing back from him.
Well we sold our home and moved next door and the cutting is now a large tree,bush, plant with dozens of flowers and even more buds :)) . It re-seeds so easy the new owner is going to dig a few plants up for us. There were even a couple right next to this one with buds ! We first had it growing under the trees in morning sun/shade garden and it was not doing good so Hubby moved it.
I think here like all our other plants we should be able to grow it year round. I love it :))
Pictures from Today !

I fell in love with the flowers today :))
We had not got it trans-planted when we moved with health issues and so the new owner of our home is diffing up a couple small plants for us :))

They were much more stunning in person :))

The bush on ground is good size but it gew tall so my husband had twirled it in the tree and there are the prettiest flowers everywhere !
Trying this link again
http://onaleeseeds.bizhosting.com/roselle_florida_cranberry_hibiscus_purple_leaves_pink_flowers_seeds.html

Sorry link is not working ? I fount it in plantsearch looking for name of plant here in DG's.
www.onaleeseeds.com
They said it was a perennial in zones 9-11; a self-sowing annual in other zones. Hope it is for us !
http://onaleeseeds.bizhosting.com/index.html

Violet those are beautiful pictures. I got 1 of mine from onalee and will have to try again in the spring.

This is our first one and I got a cutting from Bob in Spring I never dreamed it be so beautiful. We rarely ever get any frost here I'm hoping these beautiful flowers keep on coming !

Looks like I will be getting three small plants from next door our home we sold plus I ordered 24 seeds from onalee :)) I shall have lots of plants blooming and some to share too !

Thank you so much for sharing your pictures. At least I have an idea of what mine could of looked like :o)

Your well-come ! To be honest I was amazed of how beautiful it is . My pictures do not even begin to capture the beauty . Made we want to grow several :)) And then I will have plants and seeds to share and trade too !