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Originally Posted by Bjeanj
Just curious; I had hibiscus up in Indianapolis, and I ended up not liking them as much when they dropped their spent flowers. Made a real mess underneath the plant. Do they do the same in FL weather, or just keep blooming, or what?
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The one you had in Indy was probably a hardy hibiscus. I had one of those, a while back, not in Indy but in Ohio, not too far from Indy. The hardy hibiscus can come back every year in that area and can get pretty big. It is not nearly as showy as the hibiscus we have here in Florida. My hardy hibiscus was given to me by a friend who had one that had babies. (I think hardy hibiscus might be a cousin to the Rose-of-Sharon that also produces lots of little ones.(
But I might not know what I am talking about.) Anyway, it was pretty but not nearly as pretty as what we can have in Florida.
When in the Midwest, we can sometimes buy a showy hibiscus in a pot, bring it home, plant it, admire it for the summer, and then ZAP goes Mother Nature so we start all over next year. Hibiscus and Mandevilla vines used to get a little temporary time in my Ohio yard. But buying a house in Florida turned out to be a solution for wanting lots of color in the landscape, most of the year.
I think all hibiscus are deciduous. I might have to pick up a few leaves here, but our mower guys mow and edge and also blow the stuff off the rocks in the landscape. -- (
I still feel a little guilty about those rocks, instead of mulch, because I know the plants' tootsies have to get pretty hot. I do scrape the rocks back from them to assuage my conscience a little. But, secretly, I have started to kind of like the rocks. They are all shades of brown and beige and have their own pretty look. Besides, they were here when we bought the house. And the plants look happy enough.)
I am linking something here about the different kinds of hibiscus. Like I said, I probably have no idea what I am talking about, but the guy who wrote this article maybe does. -- But I do find his photograph of the hardy hibiscus to be an unfortunate shot. The poor thing has to be so embarrassed. Her buggy leaf is showing.......I know exactly how that plant feels. I never like pictures of myself -- unless they were taken in the late 1970s, but most of those photos are all faded and yellow now. (Sigh)
Well, enough from me. I have lots of work to do today and that sometimes makes me show up here and go on and on about something.
I sure do like my Florida hibiscus. But I have a newsflash for that one making all those yellow leaves,. --I am going to lop it waaaaaay down in a day or two. Maybe it needs a little strength back. It is kind of old and is probably tired from producing those big orangey-red blooms and needs to rest a little. -- I know I can't hurt a hibiscus. Another reason why I like 'em.
Tough Love Laurie
How to Grow Hibiscus | Today's Homeowner