The Hibiscus

Are you new to Carma's Flowerama? Then you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. You can do that easily by using either the email subscription box in the navigation bar or the RSS feed subscribe button just below that. Thanks for visiting!

The hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) is also called the common rose mallow or Swamp rose mallow.

When deciding where to plant one, find a place in your garden where the plant will receive six to eight hours of direct sunlight.

Because they are such prolific bloomers, hibiscus are heavy feeders. You want to give them enriched soil with lots of organic matter. That way they have a slow continuous food source all season. In addition, supplement the plant with a water soluble fertilizer such as Miracle Gro.

Water the plant thoroughly after planting and continue to water weekly during the first year to ensure it becomes well established. Once established, watering will only be necessary if there is no rain for an extended period of time.

For the winter, cut the stems down to approximately six inches tall. In the spring, when it begins to grow, prune the old stems back completely and mix in an application of granular fertilizer to give it a good start.

The height of the hibiscus shrub can range from about three to seven feet and the leaves are heart-shaped and are sized proportionally to the flower.