Close view of dark green 5-lobed serrated leaf with red stem against a bright sky blue background

How To Grow Hibiscus Plants

Updated on Mar 15, 2024
By Baillie Blankenship

The hibiscus is an incredibly heat tolerant source of leafy vegetables, and the flowers are edible too! With deeply incised, fine foliage, it is the perfect edible ornamental to add to your tropical edible oasis. The leaves are tender and buttery when picked young.

HISTORY

The history of hibiscus plants is rich and diverse, dating back thousands of years to ancient civilizations such as Egypt and China. Revered for its ornamental beauty and medicinal properties, hibiscus has been cultivated across various cultures and continents. Ancient Egyptians used hibiscus flowers for cosmetic purposes and as offerings to their gods, while Chinese herbalists valued its therapeutic benefits. Through trade and exploration, hibiscus spread to Europe, the Americas, and beyond, where it found new uses in culinary traditions and folk medicine. Today, hibiscus remains cherished worldwide, appreciated for its stunning blooms, versatility in gardens, and the infusion of its flowers into teas and beverages, which are known for their refreshing taste and potential health benefits.

USES

  • Flowers are used in tea and beauty products. Leaves of certain varieties are grown as a heat tolerant leafy green for salads and sauteing.
Close up of a 5-lobed skinny leaf with red stem on a bright sky blue backgroundClose up of a 5-lobed skinny leaf with red stem on a bright sky blue background

 

  • Choose a location in full sun with well-drained, fertile, loamy soil.
  • Plants prefer slightly acidic soil.
  • Plants are hardy from zones 5-11, depending on whether it is a hardy or tropical variety. They can easily be overwintered in a pot indoors in northern climates for varieties that are less cold tolerant like Chief Kubo’s prize (Hardy in 8b-11).
  • Space plants 2-4 ft apart. 
Bushy broad-leaved hibiscus plant growing in a brick planter Bushy broad-leaved hibiscus plant growing in a brick planter

 

  • Water regularly. Avoid water-logging the soil.
  • Plants love high potassium and nitrogen fertilizer.
  • When plants are established, prune back in the winter. Be sure to remove any dead or diseased branches.
Large, bushy narrow leaved hibiscus plant with red stems.Large, bushy narrow leaved hibiscus plant with red stems.

 

  • Hibiscus is easily propagated through cuttings.
  • Take 6-8 inch cuttings from the new growth, stripping all leaves except a few at the top of the cutting.
  • Plant into moist potting mix. Keep in a well-lit area and maintain soil moisture until cuttings have rooted.
Close shot of 5-petaled bright pink hibiscus flower with darker center.Close shot of 5-petaled bright pink hibiscus flower with darker center.