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Perennials/hibiscus
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Question
are hibiscus perinnals ? a lady friend wants me to plant it outside and i am not sure if it can take a delaware winter , any suggestions ? read on them but two sides to this . what should i do , in or outside ?
Hi Deb,
Thanx for your question. Hibiscus are in fact, perennial. There is a hardy version called Hibiscus moscheutos which is hardy to zone 5. It has large open flowers and the leaves are not glossy. It dies back to the ground in the fall and emerges usually in May of the following year.
http://www.floridata.com/ref/H/hibisc_m.cfm
Another version of the plant is the tropical hibiscus Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
http://www.floridata.com/ref/h/hibisc_r.cfm
It grows in frost-free climates, has bright colored flowers and shiny leaves. It will not survive a delaware winter and is usually the plant that comes to you in a large pot to be used as a houseplant near a sunny window or used as a potted plant on a patio and then brought in for the winter.
You'll need to determine which one you have. If you want to send me a pic, I can probably help.
I hope this helps.
Tom
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Tom Alonzo
Expertise
I have been a gardener for 20 years with perennials both growing from seed and from nurseries. I went through the Master Gardener Program from Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service and I answered questions on the Hotline a few years ago for the Wyandotte County Kansas Extension Service. I have also lived in the Florida, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, Kansas and Missouri and am experienced with a variety of climates, soils and weather conditions.
Experience
I have been growing perennials for over 20 years now. I am self-taught mostly except for a master gardener class. I have experimented with all kinds of perennials including many that are not common to my area. I have read hundreds of books and grown hundreds of varieties of plants and hope to make it a business some day. I have become versed in botanical names and growing conditions and what I don't know off of the top of my head I can usually easily find in my vast array of research material and botanical and horticultural contacts. I especially enjoy experimenting with growing plants out of zone.
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