Hibiscus/Rose of Sharon Care... Help Needed!

I have many young hibiscus and rose of sharon currently growing in pots. I plan to plant several out in the garden this year but I have a few questions.

I have several different varieties of each, so I realize some things may not apply to all. My hardy hibiscus grew really well in large pots last year. When they dropped their leaves and such, I cut them back. Now, they, among others that I didn't cut and are not of the hardy variety, are not growing from last year's growth, where I cut, but rather from soil level. A lady at the plant store told me the other day that once you cut them, they will not grow from that growth. Is that true? As I said, the hardy variety I did cut back, but other varieties I didn't and they are still growing from soil level and not last year's growth. Some are though. I can't make heads or tails out of it. Any ideas?

Also, how big do they need to be in order to plant them in a garden usually? My hardy variety bloomed last year, but it was their 2nd year in growth from seed. I hope to see blooms on the ones I've grown from last year by seed.

Any info or suggestions about these plants will be helpful! I'm kinda new to them.

Donna

There are some types of hardy hibiscus that are herbaceous, which means they'll die back and grow from the ground every year. If that's the sort that you have, then they won't grow from last year's growth, but it has absolutely nothing to do with whether you pruned them or not, that's just the way they grow. H. syriacus (Rose of Sharon) is woody though so it should grow from older branches (regardless of whether you cut it back or not). As far as planting in the garden, if they're already in their second year from seed I'm sure you could plant them in the garden this year if you wanted to.

Thanks for the info. Some I don't know exactly what variety they are... you know how seed trades go. I just know what they are. Some I know what color they are supposed to be. I have a hodge podge. But ones I know for sure that are hardy's are seed from my grandmother and bloomed last year. I got a positive ID from DGer's on them as well. I don't suspect that all the hibiscus are of the hardy variety though. I realize the rose of sharon's are in the family, but yet different.

Donna