• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
Overwintering-Your-Hibiscus-THUMB.jpg

Overwintering Your Hibiscus

How should I overwinter my hibiscus?

Let’s start by identifying the type of hibiscus you are growing.  A tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) needs to move indoors for winter.  Place it in front of a bright sunny window and treat it like a houseplant.  You just might be rewarded with flowers throughout the winter.  Or move the plant to a bright window in a cool room and water just often enough to keep the plant alive but not producing new growth.  This is more stressful on the plant but is often the only option for gardeners with limited indoor growing space.

Allow your hardy hibiscus are (Hibiscus coccineus or Hibiscus moscheutos) are hardy in zones 4 to 9 and should be allowed to stand for the winter in colder zones.  Research has shown leaving perennials stand for winter increases their hardiness. You can cover the base with evergreen boughs or straw after the ground freezes for a bit of additional winter insulation.   In late winter cut the stems back to 6 or 12 inches above ground.  These stem remnants mark the location of the late-to-emerge hibiscus.  One summer mine did not start growing until early July.  But it quickly made up for lost time and rewarded me with a full sized plant and beautiful blooms.

Rose-of-Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a late blooming shrub rated hardy in zones 5 to 8 (though I have seen zone 4 and 9 gardeners push the limits).  Proper care throughout the season will help insure its winter survival.  Zone 5 and those daring zone 4 gardeners will lose these plants when winter temperatures are extreme or quite variable.  Nothing you can do but hope for consistent cold and good snow cover.  That is the best winter protection for all our plants.

Related

Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars


April 3, 2024
Garden Trends 

Franklin Public Library, Franklin, WI

April 10, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

Container Gardening Throughout the Year
Register now

April 11, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

7 Steps to Managing Water Where it Falls in Your Yard
Register now

April 17, 2024
Landscaping for Birds: 
A Gardener’s Perspective

Glendale, WI 

April 18, 2024
Be a Waterwise Gardener
Golden Rondelle Theater, Racine, WI
Register now

April 20, 2024
Pruning Hydrangeas and Other Shrubs 
Pasquesi Home & Gardens, Lake Bluff, IL

April 27, 2024
Ridges & Rivers Book Festival
Viroqua, WI

April 28, 2024
Flowering Trees and Shrubs
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI

May 1, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

Ornamental Fruits and Vegetables
Register now

May 9, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

How to Plant Your Rain Garden
Register now

WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

Learn More

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Enter to Win The Birds & Blooms' Ultimate Gardening Guide !

ENTER NOW