Fringed hibiscus

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; provide shelter from strong winds and some afternoon shade in very hot, dry climates.

Water

Keep evenly moist during active growth, allowing the surface to begin drying between waterings. Water less in winter, but do not let the root ball dry out completely.

Soil

Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil; use a free-draining container compost in pots.

Height

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m)

Spread

5-8 ft (1.5-2.4 m)

Flowers

Coral-red to pinkish-red, pendulous flowers with deeply fringed, recurved petals and a long dangling staminal column; mainly summer and autumn, potentially year-round in continuously warm climates.

Foliage

Evergreen. Glossy green, oval leaves with toothed edges on slender, arching stems.

Growth

Fast in warm conditions

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   4 ft (1.1 m)

3. After 2 years

   5 ft (1.7 m)

4. After 3 years

   7 ft (2.3 m)

5. After 5 years

   8 ft (2.4 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Water deeply during warm weather, then let excess water drain; empty container saucers.
• Feed container plants with a balanced liquid fertiliser at the label rate during active growth.
• Mulch garden plants to conserve moisture, keeping mulch clear of the stems.
• Bring pots under cover before nights fall below 50°F (10°C), providing bright light and frost-free warmth.
• Repot in spring when roots fill the container, using a pot only slightly larger.

Pruning. Prune lightly after the main flowering flush, shortening overlong branches and removing dead or crossing wood. Flowers are borne on older growth, so repeated clipping or hard spring pruning can substantially delay flowering.

Spring

Repot root-bound plants and resume feeding as active growth begins.

Late spring

Gradually acclimatise overwintered pots to outdoor light once nights remain above 50°F (10°C).

Summer

Check container moisture frequently and inspect shoot tips and leaf undersides for pests.

Late summer

Take semi-ripe cuttings from healthy, non-flowering shoots.

Autumn

Move container plants into warm, bright shelter before cold nights arrive; lightly trim after flowering if needed.

Winter

Reduce watering to match slower growth and check indoor plants for spider mites and whitefly.

• Use as a loose specimen shrub beside a sheltered patio, where the hanging flowers can be viewed closely.
• Grow in a large courtyard container and move it under cover for winter.
• Place behind lower foliage plants so its arching branches and dangling flowers remain visible.
• Combine with gingers, cannas and cordylines in a warm, irrigated tropical border.

Garden styles it suits: Tropical, Modern tropical, Modern courtyard, Luxury resort, Balinese and Caribbean.

Plant it with: Shell ginger, Canna, Ti plant, Bird of paradise, Bromeliads and Coleus.

Wildlife: Flowers can provide nectar for butterflies and nectar-feeding birds, including hummingbirds where they occur. Wildlife use varies with the local climate and fauna.

• Aphids and whitefly: inspect young shoots and leaf undersides; wash off small infestations or apply insecticidal soap labelled for the pest, covering leaf undersides.
• Spider mites in hot, dry indoor conditions: look for stippled leaves and fine webbing; rinse foliage regularly and use a labelled mite treatment if needed.
• Yellowing leaves and root rot in saturated soil: improve drainage, empty saucers and reduce watering during cool weather.
• Few flowers after frequent pruning or in deep shade: stop clipping the branch tips, retain older growth and move the plant to brighter light.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, but species-specific safety information is limited. No particular part is established as poisonous; do not treat the flowers or leaves as food, and seek advice if ingestion causes symptoms.

• Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

  Usually has broad, overlapping petals and outward-facing flowers rather than deeply fringed, strongly recurved petals on long, hanging stalks.

• Turk's cap (Malvaviscus arboreus)

  Its red petals remain wrapped into a narrow, upright or nodding flower; they do not spread into the finely divided, reflexed petals of fringed hibiscus.

The species name schizopetalus means split-petalled, referring to the deeply divided petals that also give fringed hibiscus its common name.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe stem cuttings in summer and root them in a moist, free-draining propagation mix with warmth and high humidity. Keep out of strong direct sun while rooting.

Accepted botanical name

Hibiscus schizopetalus

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states, Pacific Basin and Puerto Rico.

Native range

Kenya and Tanzania.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.