CAROL LINK ON GARDENING: Tropical hibiscus varieties are winter houseplants in this area – Gadsden Times

The Gadsden Times

Several types of hibiscus are available at nurseries and garden centers. The tropical types of beautiful hibiscus must be treated as winter houseplants in this area. They have large, lovely, colorful blossoms, but they cannot stay outside in the landscape in the winter because they cannot endure our frigid weather. I have had some of the lovely plants, but I do not have any of them now because I do not have room in my home for large houseplants.

In our landscape, we have a Rose of Sharon hibiscus tree that is larger than any crape myrtles in our landscape. The tree flowers all summer long, presenting a canopy filled with small, lovely, pinkish-lavender, single-petaled flowers. The one negative thing about the tree is that it spreads seeds, and we spend a great deal of time each season removing seedlings that grow from the scattered seeds. I love the tree, but the seedlings can be a nuisance. I have no desire for more than one of the lovely plants.

Recently, in this column, I wrote about the three Texas Star hibiscuses that we have in our landscape. They are tough enough to withstand the winters in this area, but the top portion of the plant dies back. The root system lives and the plants return year after year. They are quite lovely, too, but I do not want more than three of those. There are other types of lovely hibiscus, one of which is a plant called a dish hibiscus that presents large round blossoms the size of a dinner plate. I do not have any of these hibiscuses, at this time.

One hibiscus plant that I have never written about is a beautiful, double-blossomed, pink-flowering Althea Rose of Sharon, which is a dwarf tree that grows at the top of the hill n our front yard. The little tree is a prolific bloomer that flowers all summer. The blossoms are small but beautiful, with twice as many petals as the flowers on the larger Rose of Sharon tree. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love the colorful, double-ruffle blossoms that, to me, before they open completely, resemble a carnation blossom. The best thing about this small tree is that it does not reseed. We never have to remove any seedlings.

This little tree is situated in full morning sun with some afternoon shade. Generally, the tree thrives on whatever amount of water that nature provides. I have never pruned the tree; I never deadhead the blossoms, but I do occasionally feed the tree with an all-purpose slow release fertilizer and I do water at that time. The tree is a fairly carefree plant that delivers a great deal of beauty to our landscape.

Carol (Bonnie) Link is an Etowah County Master Gardener and an experienced garden writer. Her weekly column is designed to help and encourage others in their gardening endeavors. Send questions or comments to clink43@bellsouth.net.

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CAROL LINK ON GARDENING: Tropical hibiscus varieties are winter houseplants in this area - Gadsden Times