Melinda Myers

Hardy Hibiscus

Botanical Name

Hibiscus moscheutos

Min Zone

4

Max Zone

9

Height

3 to 8 feet, most are about 5 feet

Width

2 to 4 feet

Flowers

Midsummer to frost: 6 to 12 inches; red, white, pink, bicolor

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil

Moist to wet, high in organic matter

Planting & Care

• Leaves may scorch in dry soils
• Pinch back growing tips when they reach 8 inches and again at 12 inches if fuller growth is desired
• New growth is slow to emerge in spring
• Does well along ponds or streams

Problems

Japanese beetles, leaf spot, canker, rust, blight, aphids, whitefly, scale

Varieties

• Luna Red - 2 to 3 feet, deep burgundy red flowers measure 6 to 8 inches
• Lord Baltimore - 4 to 5 feet, red flowers up to 10 inches
• Pink Elephant - 12 inch medium pink flowers sport a deep red eye