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Have you ever wanted to grow your very own hibiscus plant but aren't sure how? As grand and showy as these tropical beauties are, they are also surprisingly low maintenance, which is an ideal addition to any garden, as far as we're concerned!If, like us, you're dreaming about the day you can once again book tropical getaways, planting hibiscus can make it feel like you're bringing the tropics to your home. There's really nothing to it, and we're here to help you learn everything you need to know about how to grow this tropical-looking beauty.
Due to how mild our winters are here in Arkansas, the best hibiscus to grow is the hardy perennial variety, commonly known as 'rose mallow'. There are many different varieties to choose from, which we'll discuss in more detail later, but for now, we'll focus on how to grow this gorgeous hibiscus.
To produce those large, captivating blooms, they need to be planted in nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. How you treat your soil will determine how well it will grow, so we recommend amending your soil with compost once a year to maintain those nutrient levels.
Plant your hibiscus in a spot that preferably gets full sun. They can survive in partial shade, but the more sun it gets, the larger and showier its blooms will be. In fact, too much shade and you may never get any blooms at all.
In the wild, hibiscus will grow in wet areas. For this reason, they can make great additions to rain gardens or be planted near a pond or other type of water feature. As long as the soil your hibiscus is in remains consistently moist, it will be happy! However, we caution—don't drown it; there is a fine line between moist, well-drained soil and water-logged, soggy soil.
Now that we know how to grow this tropical beauty, here comes the fun part—choosing which kind you want to plant. At Westwood Gardens we carry a varied selection, each with exquisite and unique flower characteristics.Our hibiscus selection features excellent garden-size varieties that give large, showy flowers and produce a top-to-bottom blooming habit that offers a longer-lasting bloom season than other varieties. Below is our selection of hardy hibiscus. Happy growing!
Description: White blooms with a red center and blush of pink on the outer edges of the petals. Foliage is a lovely deep green.Bloom Time: Midsummer to fall.Height: Up to 4 feet.Sun: Full sun to part shade.
Description: Deep pink bloom color with a red center and dark green leaves.Bloom Time: Mid to late summer.Height: Up to 4 feet.Sun: Full sun to part shade.
Description: Very bright red blooms and deep green foliage with reddish stems.Bloom Time: Midsummer to fall.Height: 3 to 4 feet tall.Sun: Full sun.
Description: Cream-colored to pale yellow blooms with red center. Foliage is a deep green with red stems.Bloom Time: Mid to late summer.Height: Up to 4 feet tall.Sun: Full sun to part shade.
Description: Fiery scarlet blooms with nearly black foliage.Bloom Time: Midsummer to fall.Height: Up to 4 feet.Sun: Full sun to part shade.
Description: Deep red blooms with nearly black foliage. The leaves are oval-shaped and have slightly serrated edges.Bloom Time: Midsummer to fall.Height: Up to 4 feet.Sun: Full sun to part shade.
Description: Layers of pale pink against layers of darker pink gives these blooms a pinstriped look with a red center. The blooms really pop against the dark green foliage.Bloom Time: Midsummer to fall.Height: Up to 4 feet.Sun: Full sun to part shade.
Description: Red blooms with a deeper red center against bright green foliage.Bloom Time: Midsummer to fall.Height: Up to 4 feet.Sun: Full sun. Now that you know how to grow hibiscus, stop in to one of our Westwood Gardens centers located in West Fayetteville, East Fayetteville, Rogers, and Springdale to view our selection and take home your new plant(s) today!
