Cold Hardy ?

My aunt would like to know if there are any Hibiscus that can make it in VA? I told her I would ask! lol

There are no tropical hibiscus that would be winter hardy in Va. But the dinnerplate hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) would be a good choice for her. There are numerous cultivars and many are easy to start from seed.

Will my dinnerplate hibiscus come back next Spring? I'm sick because it's just down to sticks now. I cut it back to the dirt as someone suggested, but it looks absolutely DEAD!

It should come back later in spring.The ones here die to the ground and regrow every year..so be patient and presto! :-)

Ok, Eclipse.

For this, I'll be patient!

I have some what I though were what is described as hardy hibiscus look completely dead in my yard and then I have what I know are tropical still thriving despite the freezing weather. Go figure

The hardy ones always lose their leaves and go dormant in the cooler months. Your tropicals will hold out until they can't stand it anymore. I still have some tropicals blooming outdoors but my hardies, like yours, have been bare for the past 2 months.

Glad I thought to ask. My husband was wanting to take them out of the ground (new this past year to hibiscus). One or two of my tropicals are definetly goners but I was surprised to see the 2-3 that actually made it.

Hi,
Do hardy hibiscus die to the ground like peonies, or will they grow back from old growth? I was looking at Fireball. Just how late do these come out of dormancy in the north?

Anyone?

Well, I don't know a thing about WI but I'll try. I have two kinds of hardies the Rose of Sharon type just loses it's leaves and buds out from the old branches the following spring. The large dinner plate hardies die back to the ground for me and reemerge like (I imagine) a peony would. Bear in mind, I am in zone 9a.

Hope this helps.

Yes, the hardy hibiscus (dinnerplate)die back to the ground in the winter. You can cut back the dead stems now or wait until spring - - but the new growth will come from the ground, not on old wood.

The further north you are, the later they are to emerge in the spring. Mine start peeking through in early May, but I've heard that it's not uncommon for them to not show until June up north. Not to worry, they are quick growers once temperatures warm up.

Edited to add that Rose of Sharon are a shrub or small tree and do not die to the ground.

This message was edited Jan 8, 2007 9:59 AM

Plant Files lists both as hardy to zone 5a, so unless you have an unusually hard winter or a super cold microclimate they should both come back for you, just may take a little longer for them to leaf out or show growth than if you lived somewhere warmer. But don't give up on them!

Thanks for the info.
I am trying to choose from one or two of these http://www.plantdelights.com/ search hibiscus. I would like some later blooming perennial flowers so it sounds like hardy hibiscus is a good choice. Do they tend to spread quite a bit? Wider than taller?

Happy gardening

Hi again,
Aside from the link I posted above any suggestions for purchasing these online? Looking for larger good quality plants.

Thank you :*)

I have hibiscus moschuetos fireball. I am in Michigan. I cut mine back in the fall. It is slow to emerge in spring, but grows like crazy. Attaching a picture. If anyone wants seeds, I have them from this plant.
blpender

That is one amazing plant. Just beautiful!

Thanks, it sure is. I transplanted it last spring, before it showed any new growth. It had only been in it's location for a year, but I had to use the tractor to drag it to it's new location, it had such a huge root system. As you can see, it is no worse for wear. That's a 5 gallon buck next to it, for size comparison. I pollinated it myself, and collected a good number of seeds.
blpender

And what kind of magic potions are you feeding that giant? Inquiring minds want to know..........

blplender,
That is just gorgeous! I only have a pink one (Lady Baltimore) and would love to give it some company. lf you still have any seeds, I can make great use of them. I can send a SASE in tomorrows mail. Just let me know.
Thanks, LoraB.

Love it, blpender!

LOL, yes I do have seeds for anyone that wants them. Just send me an SASBE and write "red hibiscus" on the envelope.
As far as what I feed it goes, it just depends on what I have here. Most of the time, I use Mighty Plant by Eden Bioscience. They are the makers of Messenger. I've been known to give it a dose of Messenger from time to time as well. Occasionally, I use Miracle Grow Bloom Booster (and I know a lot of you will cringe at the word Miracle Grow), but, as I said, I use what I have. My ground is not particularily good, so I feed often, usually twice a week, and water daily.
blpender

Ah ha, feeding twice a week must be the trick.