Tropical Hibiscus

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis · Houseplant

Quick answer: Water: When the topsoil starts to dry; check daily in summer. Light: Full sun, 6+ hours; bright south or west window indoors. Soil: Rich, high in organic matter, moist but well-drained. Pets: The ASPCA lists hibiscus (its entry covers Hibiscus syriacus) as non-toxic to cats and dogs; there is no separate entry for Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. If in doubt, ask your vet.

A shrub with large, glossy leaves and big showy flowers that last just one day each, with new ones following steadily. In frost-free areas it grows outdoors year-round; elsewhere it lives in a pot, outside in summer and indoors in winter.

Care at a glance

Light

Full sun, 6+ hours; bright south or west window indoors

Water

Keep the root ball evenly moist; check daily in summer

Soil

Rich, high in organic matter, moist but well-drained

Temperature

Best above 50 °F; damage likely below 35 °F

Pot size

Matched to the root ball; go up about 2 in at a time (estimated)

Container

Pot with drainage holes; outdoors it grows 4–10 ft tall

Bloom

Spring to fall; flowers 3–6 in wide, each lasting one day

Lifespan

Long-lived woody shrub (zones 9–11)

When?

Move potted plants outside after nights stay above 50 °F, and bring them back in before nights drop below that in fall. Prune in early spring. Repot in spring if roots fill the pot.

Step by step

1. Give it the sunniest spot you have; more shade means fewer flowers.
2. Use a pot that fits the root ball; too large a pot makes watering harder.
3. Water when the top of the soil starts to dry and keep the root ball evenly moist.
4. Feed in the growing season only as the label directs; stop in winter.
5. Cut back by about half in early spring; flowers form on new growth.
6. Check for pests before bringing it indoors in fall.
7. Avoid moving it often; sudden changes can cause bud drop.

Common problems

Pets

The ASPCA lists hibiscus (its entry covers Hibiscus syriacus) as non-toxic to cats and dogs; there is no separate entry for Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. If in doubt, ask your vet.

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