Pruning Hibiscus

Help! I planted a beautiful hibiscus plant last year. The main stems died back over the winter. When I cut a branch early spring, there was no green. So, I cut it back to the ground. Just when I thought it was totally dead, a single stem shot up very fast (I had read on some forum to really have patience for hibiscus because they sprout late when you've almost given up). The problem is that it is only a single stem about 2 1/2 feet tall. Should I prune the top so that it branches out? Or will it branch out itself? Does hibiscus die back to the ground every year? Or should I have left the seemingly dead branches? Any suggestions are appreciated.

It depends on what hibiscus it was...the two that would be hardy in your zone are Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) and hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos). H. syriacus is a woody shrub which will lose its leaves, but doesn't die back, new leaves will form on the branches the following year. I'm not sure how it behaves if it's cut all the way down to the ground, but I wouldn't recommend doing it every year. H. moscheutos does die back all the way to the ground and will sprout from the base every year, so if that's what you had then you're fine cutting the branches down.
Here's H. syriacus: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=hibiscus&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=syriacus&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
And H. moscheutos: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=hibiscus&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=moscheutos&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search

I wish I had a Hibiscus to prune, I have had 2 planted for about four years and they are still only 12 inches tall, too cold in my area I think, oh ell another dream shattered eh.
I would cut the stem by half to see if it will through out new branches, you wont get flowers this year I dont think, but it will make new growth and next autumn, you could add a good mulch around the root area, dont put the mulch right against the growing stems or they may rot, mine get blasted with winter winds that strip the leaves of and it is only now they are beginning to leaf out again, maybe I should take mine inside and grow them in pots for better results. good luck. WeeNel.

WeeNel--what type of hibiscus are yours? Both the ones I mentioned as possibilities here are very hardy and I'm sure they would work in your zone (I'm 99% sure that Illinois is a lot colder in the winter than you are) so I think yours is probably a different type of hibiscus. If Angie's plant is hardy hibiscus (H. moscheutos) it should bloom this year, that's how they behave every year is they die back to the ground and then don't get started again until about June, but somehow they still manage to get big and bloom before the end of the season.

Thanks Ecrane, it is very late here so I will need to go outside and look at the labels tomorrow, I am used to going out at night with a flash light but tonight it is particularly cold, and we have had the roaring fire on at home so will get back to you later if you dont mind helping me then, our seasons are so mixed up it is a wonder I have a garden left, last week believe it or not, we had a night frost on the lawns, so that will give you an idea of what I am up against these last 2 years, between winters being so wet and dark and now summer so cold, the garden dont know if it is coming or going, but will keep working at it even though I am getting so despondent about it all, this from me who tries to tell everyone not to give up, oh I had better get over myself and quit the self pity dont you think eh. best wishes, WeeNel.

Hey, we all feel sorry for ourselves sometimes when the weather's been awful and nothing is going well in the garden, it's only natural! And if it's so cold in June that you were having frost and you need a fire then I can definitely understand why you'd be sad! I wish I could send you some of our heat!

Well now you know why we come to good old USA for early year break, it shortens our winters and I love the diversity of all the different states, We have the Wimbledon Tennis start here in UK next week so that's a sure sign of more rain to come, no wonder England is called the green and pleasant land, USA folks normally flock to the Tennis, but the cost of gas has sent everything sky high, wont be surprised if they stay home and watch it on TV, Hay Ho, there is always next year to try the garden again, thanks Ecrane you are a star. I'm off to bed now, so night, night. WeeNel.

I have both of that type of hibiscus.

The Hibiscus syriacus does not die back at all, only looses its leaves. It also does not seem to require pinching in order to promote side branching.

The Hibiscus moscheutos does die back to the ground completely and send up new shoots every year. It comes back very late -- I think we were well into May before it started coming back up and seemed to take forever to grow. It's now about 3' tall, perhaps a couple dozen branches. The first year I did not pinch the tops of the new branches and it did not branch out on its own. So, I only had one flower at the top of each branch. This year as soon as they started coming up I pinched the tops and then pinched the side branches as they formed. Each branch and side branch now has 6-8 flower buds on it. So if this is the kind you have you do need to pinch it for it to branch out.

Karen

It is a Lord Baltimore Hibiscus. The tag says it is cold hardy to -30F. It doesn't have a scientific name, so I'm not sure if it is one of those. We live in central IL and it doesn't get too harsh in the winter. This past winter was mild as far as the temperature. I don't think that we got below 0F at all except in windchills. We just had a lot more snow than we've had in recent years. But even that wasn't much compared to when I was a kid here.

None of my stuff seems to be doing really well this year. We've either had too much rain at one time or gone too long without it. My clematis which started out great has pint size flowers on it now. And my veggies are totally inconsistent too. Beans, tomatoes, and squash are taking off. Peas, carrots, lettuce, and corn have puttered.

It's crazy.

Ah...I see now. It's the Hibiscus moscheutos. Great. I'll cut it back tonight and see what happens. Thanks!!!!

Hi Ecrane, I have been real busy and never got back to you re the type of Hibiscus I have, unfortunately I#ll never know for sure as the label has been blown away, prob coming your way any day now as the winter harsh winds wrecked most of my garden and I lost lots of labels, I can most times remember what the plants/shrubs are but for now, will have to get my books out to find the full names again, I started to diligently label all my plants, flowering times and colours over the last few years as I was forgetting where I planted somethings till they came through, (too many plants I guess) myself ageing, or whatever, but for next year I am going to lift the Hibiscus out the border and pot them up to try get them to flower in the greenhouse so I can at least identify them, Ill baby them along for the year and them maybe move them to a more sheltered part of the garden after that to see if that will help, I dont usually give up that easy, but these plants should have flowered by now and I thing it is the temp, wind and cold winters/salt spray that are more harmful that help, will let you know how things go. thanks for you kind offer of help, always grateful. WeeNel.

You will love your Lord Baltimore. Beautiful deep red flowers come near the end of July and stay through August and gives that tropical flair. This is probably my 4th summer with it. It didn't do alot the first two years but was full and beautiful last year with the help of a little Flower Tone fertilizer. I've never cut mine back or pinched it though but it looks like it helps to pinch it back for fullness. I leave most of my stuff stand through winter and clean up in spring. It totally disappears over winter. I have it's grow thru ring left in place so I always know where its planted and my dogs don't demolish it as it begins to come up. Just be careful if you deadhead the fading blossoms that there aren't any bees inside, they like to hang around in there!

WeeNel--I would guess yours isn't a tropical one, I don't think they would get by outdoors in your winters, for some reason I'm picturing Scotland winters as probably equivalent to about zone 8 over here, and for the tropical hibiscus you have to be at least in zone 9 and preferably 10 to really be able to grow them outdoors. So it's probably one of the hardy ones but there are several different kinds. Assuming it is one of the hardy ones your winters shouldn't hurt it any, but most of them enjoy sun and heat during the summer, so if your weather tends to be cooler and cloudy or rainy or foggy then they may not get enough sun & heat to bloom well for you.