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How to trim hibiscus tree


How to Care for & Prune Hibiscus Trees | Home Guides

By Sasha Degnan Updated June 21, 2021

Pruning hibiscus trees is a vital aspect of their ongoing care, along with regular watering and feeding. Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) grow best within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9b to 11a, according to the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension, where they are grown for their showy, tropical blooms. They need a moderate amount of care to bloom and grow well, particularly in the cooler end of their hardiness zone range. Pruning, in particular, will help hibiscus shrubs look better in the garden by correcting leggy growth and by encouraging more abundant blooming in spring and summer.

Things You Will Need

Pruning Hibiscus Trees

Hibiscuses bloom on new growth so timing is crucial when pruning these showy shrubs and trees. The University of Florida IFAS Extension recommends pruning either before or just after new spring growth emerges, which is from February until mid-March in the warmer end of the hibiscus' hardiness zone range. Hibiscus trees will tolerate hard pruning back to within 1 foot of the ground, which will fully renovate their growth and blooming. Pruning the multiple stems to different, staggered heights will help encourage a more natural shape than shearing the shrub straight across. To simply remove leggy growth, prune back to the desired height and cut just above a pair of leaves, which will promote bushy side growth in addition to top growth.

Clean and sharp pruning shears will make a difference when it comes to pruning a hibiscus shrub. Have the shears sharpened or replace badly damaged shears entirely to ensure a clean cut that won't crush or chew the hibiscus' stems. Wash the shears in hot, soapy water and rinse them well. The University of California Cooperative Extension recommends wiping pruning blades with 70-percent rubbing alcohol to kill off any pathogens. Exercise caution if using rubbing alcohol because it is highly flammable.

Caring for Hibiscus Trees

Hibiscus trees thrive when given plenty of water and fertilizer during the active growing season, particularly when they are grown in warm, dry climates. Water deeply but infrequently, running water at the base of the plant until the soil feels very moist below the surface. It is vital to let the soil dry out somewhat between waterings to prevent fungal root rot, which is sometimes a problem for hibiscuses. Keep the soil a little dryer in winter when the soil is cool, and resume watering in spring when new growth begins to show at the stem tips.

Hibiscus shrubs are moderate feeders when grown in warm, bright conditions. Logee's Plants recommends feeding with 1/4 teaspoon soluble fertilizer diluted in 1 gallon of water once a week during the summer months. A blooming fertilizer such as 7-9-5 works well for hibiscus shrubs, as does a balanced fertilizer such as 15-15-15. Stop feeding hibiscus shrubs in winter when they are not actively growing.

Hibiscus Seasonal Care

The standard Hawaiian hibiscus is not among the types of hardy hibiscus grown in cooler climates. It is frost-tender and is often grown as an annual shrub in colder areas outside of its preferred hardiness zone range. Potted hibiscus shrubs can be overwintered by bringing them indoors or placing them in a greenhouse while garden-grown specimens need a little extra help to overwinter successfully in the northerly end of their USDA hardiness zone range. Hawaiian hibiscuses may still die back with hard frost but they can return from the roots if they are well-protected.

Protect hibiscus shrubs by discontinuing fertilizer in summer so that any new growth has time to harden-off before the first frost. Water well if frosts are forecasted because moist soil retains warmth more efficiently than cold soil. A 5-inch-thick layer of loose, fluffy mulch such as straw or oak leaves spread around the base of the hibiscus will help protect the roots even if the stems die back. Be sure to leave an inch or so of space between the mulch layer and the base of the stems to prevent stem rot. Remove the mulch after the soil warms.

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Writer Bio

Sasha Degnan is a freelance writer and educator specializing in gardening and horticulture. She has nearly 25 years of experience in the propagation and care of plants.

How to prune hibiscus: to keep them flowering for longer

(Image credit: Getty images)

Learning how to prune hibiscus is easy and will keep your plant in great condition. Hibiscus are beautiful and showy plants with large, bright flowers in a range of colors, from yellow to pink. Highly decorative, the flowers can bring a tropical feel and a pop of color to your garden. The flowers and buds are also edible and make a beautiful sweet tea. 

Hibiscus flowers are short-lived, usually only blooming for a single day. However, if you have included them in your flower bed ideas, and prune them correctly, you will have a profusion of flowers and a long-lasting colorful display with new flowers opening every day. 

The hibiscus family is a large one including species that are herbaceous perennials, annuals, woody shrubs and even trees. The varieties most commonly found in gardens are Hibiscus syriacus, a hardy deciduous flowering shrub and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, or Chinese Hibiscus, a tender evergreen shrub only grown in the tropics and subtropics.

Follow this easy guide and learn how to prune hibiscus. You will be pleased to know that pruning hibiscus is a whole lot simpler than you might think. 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

How to prune hibiscus

If you want to know how to prune hibiscus correctly, the first thing you need to establish is what kind of hibiscus you’re dealing with.  

There are numerous varieties with a range of characteristics and blooms of different colors. If you choose the right type for your garden and plant it in the right place, and learn how to prune hibiscus in the right way, they will produce a stunning floral show throughout the growing season.

Treat your hibiscus well and you will create a flowering machine – as one day’s flowers fade, so a vigorous array of new flowers will appear to succeed them. With so many colors to choose from, you can include hibiscus in a range of garden color schemes.

How to identify hibiscus

If you planted your hibiscus yourself, chances are you’ll already know which category it falls under. If, however, you’ve inherited a ready-planted hibiscus in your garden you’ll need to identify at least the category it belongs to in order to know how to prune hibiscus in the right way. Just as you prune rhododendrons in different ways and at different times depending on the variety, the same is true of hibiscus. The outline below will help with both scenarios. 

How to prune native hibiscus

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Native hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) – also known as common rose mallow, swamp mallow, or marsh hibiscus – are native to the southeastern US. Choose between pink, red and white flowering varieties. As its name suggests, the swamp mallow prefers marshy wetland habitats, but can tolerate drier spots if kept well watered. The scarlet rose mallow is a beautiful variety, common in Florida, which can grow to 4 to 8 feet tall (1 to 2.5 m.).

According to Gena Lorraine, gardening expert at Fantastic Services , ‘Native hibiscus is very easy to care for but sometimes they can grow a bit leggy and too tall. 

To keep a healthy height, you need to make sure you know how to prune hibiscus. 

'Make sure to cut its stems back towards the end as they are from the previous season and the plant will not bloom from these. You should do that in late winter or early spring before the new growth. Always use sharp blades and if the plant looks tender and leaning, you can tie it to a supporting stake,’ says Gena.

How to prune tropical hibiscus

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), as the name suggests, can only survive permanently in zones 9-11 and suit tropical garden ideas. They have glossy dark green leaves and flowers of rich reds, yellow, orange through to peach, pink and gold. With their showy blooms, they are great as shrubs for the front of the house to increase its curb appeal.

'There are many forms of rosa-sinensis,’ says Byron Martin from Logees Plants in Connecticut. ‘The coloration of the flowers is really extraordinary; there's so much diversity in the color it could take years to become familiar with the amount of beauty that is in this genus,’ he continues. 

Tropical hibiscus share some characteristics with the native hibiscus. If you live in a cooler climate, it’s still possible to grow tropical hibiscus, but in this case you will treat it as an annual, or bring it indoors into a conservatory or heated greenhouse before the temperatures start to drop outside. 

Gena Lorraine offers the following advice on pruning tropical hibiscus: ‘this type of hibiscus should be pruned until it achieves a tree-like shape but the timing really depends on where you live. 

‘In the US the best time to prune is in spring or when the weather starts warming up. Never prune tropical hibiscus in fall as you risk freezing the new and still tender growth. Also, it’s recommended to bring your tropical hibiscus inside in winter if it’s planted in a pot. On the other hand, if you live in a tropical area, you can prune the plant all year round. Start pruning by removing the outer growth and any suckers growing around the base. Of course, keep an eye on diseased branches to avoid spreading.’ 

How to prune hardy hibiscus

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus spp) have heart-shaped, dull green leaves and white, pink or red flowers. They are similar in nature to tropical hibiscus, but the main difference lies in where they can grow. Hardy hibiscus are cold tolerant in cooler US zones 5 to 8, hardy hibiscus produce showy flowers in a range of colors. 

Known for her step-by-step gardening tutorials, and, describing herself as ‘a native of chilly zone 5, where we love hardy hibiscus’, gardening expert Mary Jane Duford says: ‘Hardy hibiscus is a low-maintenance perennial that needs only basic pruning. ’ 

She adds, ‘This type of hibiscus dies back to the soil surface each winter in the cooler zones in which it thrives. New sprouts appear in the springtime, after most other hardy herbaceous perennials have sprouted. At this point, any remnants of overwintered stems can be trimmed off with sharp, clean pruning shears.’

Pruning is not required during this summer foliage growth period, although stems can be pinched back when under a foot tall if a shrubby form is desired. Once the plant starts to flower, remove spent blooms as they finish flowering. This plant is known for its incredible flowers, and looks much more attractive when the wilted blooms are removed.

In the late fall, long after flowering is finished, you will need to prune hardy hibiscus stems following a hard frost. If you wish, you can leave 3-6 inches of stem visible to remind you where the plant is. Although Mary Jane Duford adds that stems ‘can also be left standing until early spring to support the local bird population during the winter months. ’

(Image credit: John Swithinbank)

How should hibiscus be pruned?

How hibiscus should be pruned depends on the variety you have. Once you have identified the variety of hibiscus that you have, you will be able to choose what is the best way to prune by following this guide. 

All pruning should be carried out with a pair of sharp, clean secateurs. A clean cut made by a sharp tool will heal easier than a messy cut. Using a clean tool will also help to reduce the chances of infection. It is also good practice to prune on a dry day. 

How hard can you cut back hibiscus?

You can cut hibiscus right back, but pruning is a matter of choice. Good pruning will promote flowering. 

Native hibiscus can get quite tall and start to look a little untidy, so if you want a neater plant with more blooms make sure to prune as directed above. Tropical and hardy hibiscus can be pruned into an attractive tree shape, or kept as a bushy shrub. 

How do I prune hibiscus for winter?

It will depend on the type of hibiscus that you have whether you prune it before or at the end of winter, or early spring.

Native hibiscus and hardy hibiscus will die back in cold weather, this is a natural part of their growth cycle and nothing to worry about. 

Tropical hibiscus however cannot tolerate temperatures below 50°F (10°C). Tropical hibiscus can be grown in cooler climates as an annual, but if you want to keep it going through winter you will need to bring it indoors. Pruning will help keep it to a manageable size. 

And there you have it. Once you've identified your plant type according to our experts' advice, learning how to prune hibiscus and care for it couldn't be simpler.  

Karen is the houses editor for homesandgardens.com and homes editor for the brand’s sister titles, Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors, and an experienced writer on interiors and gardens. She loves visiting historic houses for Period Living and writing about rural properties for Country Homes & Interiors, and working with photographers to capture all shapes and sizes of properties. Karen began her career as a sub editor at Hi-Fi News and Record Review magazine. Her move to women’s magazines came soon after, in the shape of Living magazine, which covered cookery, fashion, beauty, homes and gardening. From Living Karen moved to Ideal Home magazine, where as deputy chief sub, then chief sub, she started to really take an interest in properties, architecture, interior design and gardening. 

When to prune indoor hibiscus, the best time

Hibiscus is the most common indoor plant, it is also called Chinese rose. Such a flower needs proper care, the main step is pruning or forming the crown of the plant. With proper care, the life of the bush reaches twenty years. Consider the basic rules for pruning a plant, why it needs to be done, and in what period.

Why hibiscus pruning?

Indoor hibiscus needs pruning, this plant is a must. We will find out the reasons why this procedure should be carried out.

  1. After some time, shoots may become deformed, uneven or short. To solve this problem, old shoots are cut off, and new ones grow in their place, having the correct shape.

  2. Instead of splendor, only old shoots grow on the bush, as a result, the plant has poor greenery. After pruning, the bush begins to develop in full force, gives a lot of new green shoots, and becomes lush. But flowering occurs weakly or it may not be at all, since at first the plant spends all its strength on the renewal of greenery. Thus, the flower will have a beautiful magnificent shape.

  3. This procedure is carried out for the purpose of rejuvenation, after a while dry shoots appear on the plant, they must be cut off so that new shoots appear.

  4. Pruning may be sanitary in nature, in which case it is necessary to get rid of the affected shoots, while removing a little of the healthy part.

  5. In order for the bush to develop well and bloom abundantly, pruning is also performed.

Sometimes the roots of the flower are cut off, this procedure is done very rarely, in such cases, when they have grown too large and do not fit in a pot. This must be done with extreme care so as not to damage the main branches of the roots.

Correct formation of the hibiscus crown

There are two ways to form the hibiscus crown, they create a lush or horizontal shape.

A lush crown is formed much more often than a horizontal crown. The form is chosen independently, to whom, what is more like or suits the design of the room. The main advantage of hibiscus is that it can be grown as a lush bush or tall flowering tree.

Pruning is carried out with ordinary scissors, the branches of the plant are thin, so the procedure is not difficult. Cut off the processes located parallel to the main branches, as well as all the dried elements.

To add splendor to the plant, cut off the area above the leaf facing outward by 1/3. Pruning is done annually, in the spring. This procedure is performed in the fall, after active flowering. In the absence of such a procedure, the plant will cease to bloom, since flowers appear only on the shoots of a young species.

It is best not to prune in the summer as the bush will not produce flowers.

How to pinch indoor hibiscus?

Young shoots must be pinched off, the procedure is carried out in early spring. This is done with each young shoot.

Basic rules for trimming

  1. The shoot located in the center is tied to a support, this can be a bamboo stick or other solid object suitable for this role.

  2. Cut off all shoots of the lateral view, leaving up to 5 leaves. Thus, the trunk of the bush will thicken.

  3. During this period, active nitrogen fertilizing is carried out, and when the plant reaches the required height, the crown is pinched, leaving about 6 healthy shoots. They will serve as a crown, which must be periodically cut to obtain new branches.

  4. Mandatory trimming of shoots that are parallel to the main trunk, and branches growing in the inner part of the crown.

Almost all plants need pruning, including hibiscus, such a procedure can renew, improve the appearance, and maintain the health of the bush.

Indoor hibiscus pruning is carried out in autumn and spring, after the bush stops flowering, this is done with ordinary scissors. In this case, you can create a lush or horizontal crown. Pinching young shoots, they begin to develop faster and more actively, more flowers appear.

Hibiscus pruning - time, tools and pruning techniques

Hibiscus pruning is done in autumn or spring. Regular pruning not only stimulates flowering, but also makes the plant strong and beautiful. Pruning rewards growers with significantly more flowers the following year. What needs to be done and what to look for when trimming is described below in our article.

Hibiscus trimmed

Content

  • 6 Hibiscus hedge
    • 6.1 Radical hibiscus pruning
  • 7 Hibiscus pruning and crowning video

    • Hibiscus pruning time

    Fall is the best time to prune hibiscus. When pruned, there will be new shoots, dense foliage, and magnificent flower growth. Pruning in the fall is better than pruning in the spring just before the start of the new season. The temperature should be at least 10 degrees Celsius and there should be no frost. In autumn, it is best to prune garden hibiscus in late September - early October; a dry day should be chosen for hibiscus pruning.

    In autumn, watering the plants is gradually reduced to a minimum and the leaves are allowed to fall, and then the stems are cut off, leaving stumps of 7-8 centimeters. After 3-4 months, the plant will give a new growth.

    Hibiscus Pruner

    Hibiscus Pruner

    A very important point in hibiscus pruning is the cutting tool. In order not to damage the plant when pruning, use only sharp tools such as a knife or secateurs. You can also use electric hibiscus trimmers, they are usually used only for trimming young shoots and thinner branches. An electric trimmer is used in most cases to correct the shape and give the plant straight lines. If deep cutting is required, power cutting tools should be used.

    Disinfection of cutting tools

    Using a dirty cutting tool can quickly lead to infection of the plant with various infections, especially on wet autumn days. Transmission of pathogens such as fungi during the autumn months and with dirty cutting tools is more likely to cause harm to garden hibiscus when pruning. Instruments must be disinfected before each use. Various disinfection options are available:

    Fire disinfection

    The cutting blades of the tool are held for a few seconds over the fire. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that intense contact is created between the blades and the flame for several seconds. This will be enough to kill bacteria, viruses and fungal spores. The source of the flame can be a gas burner, a lighter or burning alcohol.

    Alcohol disinfection

    Use regular alcohol or isopropyl alcohol to effectively disinfect cutting tools. If you use alcohol, then it must be mixed with distilled water in a ratio of 7:1. Isopropyl alcohol must be 70%, it can be bought at a pharmacy. When using alcohol, cutting tools should be placed in the solution and remain completely immersed in it for a minimum of two minutes. After that, the tools are wiped with a clean cloth, or even better, wait a while for the tool to dry completely.

    Chemical disinfection

    You don't have to worry about fungal or bacterial contamination in your hibiscus if you treat your cutting tool blades with chemicals before trimming.

    An example of such a drug is "Dimanin", it is used as a disinfectant against various pathogenic and other microorganisms. You can take a five percent solution and immerse the cutting tool in it for just one minute, all harmful microorganisms will be reliably killed.

    Hibiscus Pruning Technique

    To minimize damage to hibiscus from pruning and prevent various diseases, it's a good idea to use a pruning technique where you make even cuts directly on the trunk or branch. In addition, an oblique cut must be made.

    Angle cut

    Usually autumn is a rainy, wet season. During this period, hibiscus slices dry much more slowly than at dry, warm temperatures. With unprotected sections, the risk of disease increases. Even without a dirty cutting tool, fungal spores can enter the plant through the wind and usually spread unnoticed throughout the winter. Viral infections are also serious hazards that can enter through the cut on the plant. Therefore, in the autumn, when pruning hibiscus, cuts should always be processed. The following means are suitable for this purpose:

    Hibiscus Pruning Types

    Pruning can have several causes. Pruning hibiscus stimulates the production of new flowers, as they only appear on new shoots, and new branches also appear. Hibiscus are cultivated as small or large plants, the shape of the crown of the plant can be formed by timely correct pruning.

    Early pruning hibiscus

    The name "early pruning" suggests that this is a pruning of young garden plants. From the first year of life, young plants should be pruned regularly during the autumn months. In the early years, pruning hibiscus is quite easy, with a young plant only a few shoots need to be pruned. With each new year, the hibiscus grows and it takes more effort to trim it accordingly.

    Autumn pruning should always be done very generously, cutting all the shoots and the stem of the plant by three quarters.

    Hibiscus Standard Pruning

    Full-grown pruning is pruning in which a young garden hibiscus is pruned in such a way that bushy foliage with magnificent flowers forms on the “bare” stem.

    'Hamabo Syrian Hibiscus'

    'Hamabo Syrian Hibiscus' is suitable for growing a tall shrub and requires a lot of patience from gardeners as it takes four to six years to form.

    Trim your plants as follows:

    Hibiscus conservation pruning

    Preservation pruning of your hibiscus in the garden is a measure that influences the growth of the plant and the formation of its crown. Cropping is done as follows:

    Rejuvenating hibiscus pruning

    Over the years, hibiscus in the garden becomes more often lighter. This is usually due to the inner branches, which absorb nutrients and take up space for new shoots to grow. Therefore, every garden hibiscus sooner or later needs rejuvenation. You can prevent the discoloration of the plant in advance.

    To prune the plant, do the following:

    Hibiscus hedge

    Hibiscus in the garden is becoming more and more popular as a hedge. It requires special pruning in the autumn months, resulting in a compact hedge shape, and in summer numerous flowers grow on fresh shoots.

    Learn more