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Chinese hibiscus

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

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Chinese hibiscus · Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Large flowers and deep foliage inspire a tropical garden.

Care and placement

Needs full sun (about 6+ hours), steady watering when the top 2–3 cm is dry and loose well-drained soil; thrives in heat but sudden changes cause bud drop.

Draft mature dimensions

Maximum height (cm): 300 cm · Maximum spread (cm): 250 cm

Things to consider

ASPCA lists Hibiscus species (e.g. H. syriacus) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Still discourage pets from chewing large amounts of leaves or flowers.

Unknown evidence does not mean safe. Decorative plants are not automatically edible.

Information is compiled from multiple reputable sources for reference. If you spot an error, please contact us so we can check and update it.

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How to grow and care for it

  1. Planting and pot

    Plant in a large pot or in the ground in sun, with loose, humus-rich, well-drained soil; pots need drainage holes. Move into hot sun gradually over 8–10 days to avoid leaf scorch.

  2. Light

    At least about 6 hours of direct sun daily; light shade at the hottest part of summer is fine. Too little sun means few flowers.

  3. Watering

    Water when the top 2–3 cm is dry, typically every 2–3 days in hot weather and every 5–7 days when cool; keep evenly moist but never waterlogged. Bud drop usually comes from erratic watering, sudden temperature change or dry air.

  4. Feeding

    Prefers low-phosphorus, high-potassium feed (e.g. 9-3-13, 10-4-12) every 2–6 weeks in the growing season. Avoid too much nitrogen (leaves, few flowers) and high-phosphorus bloom boosters, which one source says suppress flowering.

  5. Pruning

    Prune in late winter or early spring before growth; flowers form on new wood so pruning to stimulate new stems gives more blooms. Remove spent flowers promptly.

  6. Propagation

    Semi-hardwood cuttings: take a healthy stem, strip lower leaves, set in moist mix in bright indirect light; roots form in a few weeks. Air layering and grafting also work.

  7. Pests and common problems

    Aphids (on new growth and buds), whiteflies, spider mites and mealybugs. Blast undersides of leaves with water or use insecticidal soap or neem oil, which are gentle enough for flowering plants.

  8. For more flowers

    For more blooms: enough sun, consistent watering, high-potassium low-nitrogen low-phosphorus feeding, pruning for new wood and deadheading. Bring it somewhere warm when nights fall below about 10 °C (50 °F).