ShrubsHibiscus rosa-sinensis
Chinese Hibiscus
Chinese hibiscus is a tropical shrub with glossy dark green foliage and large, funnel-shaped flowers in fiery red, pink or orange that can appear year-round. Each flower lasts only one day, but the plant continuously produces new buds. As a container plant it brings tropical flair to terraces and conservatories.
Characteristics
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
- Height
- 100–300 cm
- Spread
- 100–200 cm
- Hardiness zone
- 9–12
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Evergreen
- Yes
- Flower colors
- red, pink, orange
- Wildlife value
- butterflies, hummingbirds, bees
Bloom period
Care guide
Place in a sunny, warm spot. Keep the soil evenly moist but avoid waterlogging. Feed weekly during the growing season with liquid fertiliser. Overwinter in a bright, frost-free location (12-15°C). If overwintered too dark, leaves may drop, but the plant will regrow in spring.
Pruning tips
Prune in early spring by shortening a third of the branches. This encourages branching and flowering on new wood. Remove dead, weak and inward-growing branches. Hibiscus tolerates hard pruning well.
Good companions
TreesPlumeria rubra
Frangipani
Frangipani is a tropical tree famed for its intoxicatingly fragrant flowers in soft shades of pink, white and yellow. The waxy blooms appear in clusters at the tips of thick, fleshy branches from May to October. In winter the tree sheds its leaves, revealing an elegantly branched silhouette.
ClimbersBougainvillea spectabilis
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is a spectacular climber famed for its overwhelming mass of brightly coloured bracts in pink, purple or red. The true flowers are small and white, hidden among the showy bracts. This vigorous plant covers walls and pergolas in a dazzling tapestry of colour from May to October.
PerennialsStrelitzia reginae
Bird of Paradise
The bird of paradise is a striking tropical plant with sturdy, blue-green, banana-like leaves and spectacular flowers resembling the head of an exotic bird. The blooms combine vivid orange sepals with sky-blue petals and appear almost year-round. An architectural showpiece as a container plant.