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When to trim a hibiscus


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. 

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. 

Best Time to Prune Hardy Hibiscus :: Melinda Myers

Should I be pruning my hibiscus in the spring or fall?

The perennial hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus and Hibiscus moscheutos) die back to the ground each winter and send up new growth in spring. They are hardy in zones 4 or 5 through 9 and slow to emerge in spring. I had to wait until early July one season, so be patient. Northern gardeners should let the plants stand for the winter to increase cold hardiness. Cut the perennial hibiscus back in late winter or early spring. Leave 6 inches of stem intact to mark its location and protect this late to emerge plant from accidental digging. The Rose of Sharon is also a hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus) hardy in zones 4 or 5 through 8 or 9. This is a shrub that blooms in late summer. Prune these in late winter or early spring before growth begins. Remove any dead branches. Cut dead tips back to a healthy side branch or above a bud. Limit additional pruning to what is needed to shape or control the plant’s size.

prune rose-of-sharon flowers-ornamental-grasses maintenance hardy-hibiscus

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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. nine0007

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. nine0005

    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.

  2. 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. nine0007

  3. 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.

  4. 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. nine0007

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. nine0007

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. nine0007

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. nine0007

  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. nine0007

how to form a crown? Selo.Guru — web portal about agriculture

Crown formation is not always perfect without human intervention. To do this, the plant must be cut. How to prune a Chinese indoor rose and whether you need to prune a hibiscus for the winter, you will learn from this article.

Show Contents

  • Why do you trim?
  • How to shape the crown correctly?
  • How to pinch?
  • Picture
  • Useful video

    • Why do you trim?

    Pruning indoor hibiscus, or "Chinese rose" as it is popularly called, is vital. There are a number of reasons for this:

    1. To get rid of deformed shoots - over time, some are bent, become short and become irregular in shape. This needs to be corrected: cut off the twisted ones, in the place of which new ones will grow.
    2. To shape the plant. nine0188 Not always a plant is able to grow a lush "hair" on its own - instead, only old shoots grow. That's when pruning is required. Just do not forget that after this the flower spends all its strength on the growth of new shoots, therefore it either does not bloom at all, or blooms weakly.
    3. To rejuvenate the plant. Over time, the flower has a lot of old withered branches, which must be urgently disposed of.
    4. To get rid of diseased shoots. In this case, this is called "sanitary" pruning: the affected parts of the plant are removed, taking the healthy parts as well. nine0006
    5. So that the plant grows well and pleases with abundant flowering. In some cases, pruning of the roots of the flower is carried out, but this happens extremely rarely - mainly when the root system has grown too much and there is not enough space in the pot. In this case, it is necessary to act very carefully - you can damage the roots.

    How to shape the crown correctly?

    There are two ways to form a hibiscus crown: lush crown and horizontal.

    A lush crown needs to be formed more carefully and more often than a horizontal one. Here, what someone likes more, what is more suitable for the interior, and so on.

    One of the advantages of hibiscus is that it allows you to have both a lush crown and a tall tree.

    Cut with normal scissors - flower branches are too thin for secateurs.

    Shoots that grow parallel to the main branches should be cut off. All dry branches must also be removed . nine0188

    In order for the plant to become lush, it must be cut as follows: take an area about 1/3 above the leaf facing outward and cut it off.

    Hibiscus should be pruned every year in the spring. In autumn, after each flowering, the plant also needs pruning. If this is not done, side shoots will not grow and there will be no new buds and flowers. Moreover, hibiscus flowers appear only on young shoots.

    Therefore, in order for it to bloom, you need as much as possible should be trimmed more often. In addition, the crown of the plant from this will become thicker and more spreading.

    It is not recommended to prune in summer, otherwise you won't see flowers.

    How to pinch?

    It is not harmful for hibiscus to pinch young shoots. This should be done in early spring. You can pinch everything - it will not hurt them in any way.

    Pinch off the hibiscus as follows: tie the central shoot to the support, and cut off all the side shoots, leaving 3-5 leaves. Most often, a bamboo stick is taken as a support. If one is not at hand, you can use a pencil, knitting needle or other handy material that is useful for this role. Due to this procedure, the trunk will become thicker. nine0007

    It must be remembered that at this time it is necessary to actively feed the plant with nitrogen. When the flower has grown to the desired length, it is necessary to pinch off the top of the flower, leaving 5-6 well-developed shoots. This is the future crown - it needs to be cut more often to get thick branches.

    Be sure to cut off the so-called "tops" - shoots that grow parallel to the main trunk. Branches growing inside the crown also need pruning.

    So, pruning is required for all plants, and hibiscus too. She is not only called improve the appearance of the flower, but also have a good effect on its health and condition .

    Prune after each bloom in spring and autumn. In the fall, you should not carry out this procedure. You need to use regular scissors. There are two ways to form the crown of a plant: create a lush crown and horizontal. Pinching is also essential. This will help the young shoots grow faster, which means there will be more buds and flowers.

    Pruning is one of the stages of hibiscus care.

    Learn more