Hibiscus flowers come in a wide range of colors and styles, which makes them a popular choice for gardens all over the world. Their big, bright blooms and lush leaves make landscapes look stunning. Knowing the different types of hibiscus flowers helps gardeners choose the best ones for their needs and growing conditions.
Overview of Hibiscus Flowers
Hibiscus grows in the same family as mallows and is known for its bright, trumpet-shaped flowers. Hibiscus comes in many types and hybrids, such as annuals, perennials, shrubs, and even trees. Hardy hibiscus, tropical hibiscus, and Rose of Sharon are some of the most common types.
Hibiscus flowers come in almost every color, though red, pink, white, orange, yellow, and purple shades are the most popular. They typically have dark centers and prominent pistils and stamens. The blooms can be as small as 2 inches or over 12 inches wide depending on the variety.
Many hibiscus varieties make excellent container plants. They are also good as accent plants, hedges, base plants, and edge plants. Some types of hibiscus will bloom over and over from summer to fall if you take good care of them.
Hardy Hibiscus
Hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) is a cold-tolerant perennial that thrives in zones 4-9. It produces some of the largest hibiscus blooms, sometimes exceeding 12 inches across. Colors include white, pink, red, and bicolor varieties like ‘Midnight Marvel’ with deep red flowers.
This moisture-loving plant reaches 3-7 feet tall and does best in full sun with rich, consistently moist soil. It is low maintenance and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Prune hardy hibiscus in early spring to shape the plant and remove dead growth.
Tropical Hibiscus
The flowers of the tropical hibiscus plant (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) are very bright, coming in shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, and white. One popular type is “Black Dragon,” which has huge 8-inch purple and red flowers.
A tropical plant, this type needs zones 9-11. It reaches 2-6 feet tall and thrives in moist, well-drained acidic soil. Partial shade helps prevent leaf burn in hot climates. Fertilize and water regularly during the growing season for the best display of 6-inch blooms.
Rose of Sharon
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a deciduous woody shrub with single or double hibiscus-like flowers in pink, purple, blue, red, and white. It is hardy in zones 5-8 and tolerates drought and poor soil conditions.
This multi-stemmed plant reaches 8-12 feet tall and 5-12 feet wide. Prune in early spring to shape it and improve flowering. Reliable varieties include ‘Blue Satin’ with purple-blue blooms and the dwarf ‘Lil Kim’ at just 3-4 feet tall.
Additional Popular Types
Some other popular hibiscus flowers include:
- Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) – Shrub known for its edible red calyces used to make teas and jams. Has pale pink and yellow flowers.
- Cranberry hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella) – Grown for its vivid red maple-shaped leaves and interesting pink flowers.
- Swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) – Large shrub with bright red blooms, thrives in moist conditions.
- Hawaiian hibiscus (Hibiscus brackenridgei) – Hawaiian endemic with striking yellow flowers and a mild fragrance. Needs tropical environments.
- Confederate rose (Hibiscus mutabilis) – Showy white, pink, or red flowers on fast-growing shrubs or small trees.
Key Tips for Growing Hibiscus
Follow these tips to successfully grow vibrant hibiscus flowers:
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Choose a variety suited for your USDA zone. Tropical hibiscus needs zone 9-11 while hardy hibiscus thrives down to zone 4.
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Plant in well-draining soil in full to partial sun. Enrich soil with compost or manure.
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Water 1-2 inches per week, allowing soil to dry slightly between waterings.
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Fertilize monthly in spring and summer with a balanced fertilizer.
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Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering on many varieties.
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Watch for pests like aphids and spider mites. Treat quickly with horticultural oils or insecticidal soap sprays.
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Prune in late winter or early spring to shape, improve branching, and remove dead growth.
Bringing Vibrant Color to Your Landscape
With their bright, tropical blooms and easy-care nature, hibiscus flowers liven up gardens and landscapes. Choosing a type suited for your climate ensures you can enjoy their striking colors year after year. Do your research, select an ideal growing site, and provide proper care through the seasons. Soon your garden will be filled with vibrant hibiscus blossoms from midsummer into fall.
Rose hibiscus varieties
The so-called rose hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) belongs to the heat-loving plants and is therefore not suitable for year-around cultivation outdoors and must be wintered indoors. This species is very popular as a potted plant or houseplant and has a very large species diversity.
- “Gator Magic” is a very rare type of hibiscus that has pink double flowers with yellow edges. It blooms from April to November.
- “Donna Lynn” hibiscus blooms are deep red on the inside and purple and yellow on the outside.
- This variety, called “Gwen Mary,” has bright pink flowers all summer long. The flower petals can be up to 18 centimeters across.
- ‘Chasing Rainbows’: this variety of hibiscus has particularly large flowers. It has bright red flowers in the middle that have a dark red wreath around them.
- “Dark Continent”: The flowers of this type are 18 centimeters across and are brown on the outside and red on the inside. It loves sunlight and blooms from April to November.
- “Jolanda Gommer”: this type of hibiscus can grow up to 30 centimeters tall in a sunny spot. The flowers are big and beautiful, with shades of purple, orange, and red.
- ‘Expect Miracles’: the name speaks for itself. The large, rich orange flowers are always beautiful.
- ‘Tsunami’: another rare variety. The flowers are 16 cm across and are a mix of brown and orange. It is very important for this variety to be in a bright, sunny spot.
- This variety is as colorful as a coloring book, which is how it got its name. Each flower is 20 centimeters across and shines in yellow, orange, white, or pink. Flowering time is from April to November.
- Its flowers are reddish-orange to yellow and can be up to 15 centimeters across. Its name is “Standing Ovation.” It blooms throughout the spring and summer.
- “Hula Girl” is a type of hibiscus that has big, bright yellow flowers. Towards the centre, the flowers turn red.
- “Voodoo Magic” is the name of a very rare type of hibiscus plant whose flowers look very strange. They are brown with an orange bud in the middle. These special flowers can be admired from April to November.
- “Tahitian Flaming Dragon”: This type blooms pink with white stripes where it gets sun. The flower petals can be up to 18 centimeters across. You can enjoy the beautiful flowers from April to November.
- “Tahitian Lavender Mirage”: this is a rare variety with lavender flowers that are 25 centimeters across. Flowering time is from April to November. The hibiscus prefers a south-facing window with plenty of sunlight.
- „Cosmic Dancer”: This type of flower has light to dark red petals that get lighter and lighter around the edges until they are almost orange.
- “Eye of the Storm”: this type is beautiful with its unique wavy flowers. Their color ranges from light pink to lilac to bright pink.
- “Silver Charm”: This type of hibiscus has white flowers, not silver ones. They can grow up to 19 centimeters across and bloom in the sun from April to November.
- With its pink double flowers and yellow edges, the rare variety “Fruitango” is beautiful from April to November.
- The flowers of the “Enchanted Lady” variety are yellow around the edges, but turn red in the middle and are dark, almost black in the middle.
- ‘Early Morning’: this variety impresses with large pink flowers. It can get up to 50 centimeters tall and likes a spot with some shade.
- “Heartbreak Hotel” has 16-centimeter-diameter red flowers with spots on them that are very attractive. It grows best in full sun and blooms from April to November.
Find out here how to grow rose hibiscus and other species of hibiscus in a pot.
Garden hibiscus varieties
The garden hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus) is a very hardy species, which can also be overwintered outdoors. Thanks to its woody shoot formation, it is also suitable for cultivating from a stem. The diversity of the species is rather small.
- ‘White Chiffon’: this variety impresses with its pure white flowers. These are semi-double and have a diameter of 12 centimetres. This flower can get up to 1.5 meters tall and blooms from summer to fall.
- “Pinky Spot”: can get as tall as 1.5 meters The outside of the flower is red and the inside is white. They bloom from June to August.
- “Purpureus Variegatus” is a pretty uncommon cultivar that has beautiful double red to purple flowers and whitish green leaves. It blooms from July to September and is two meters tall.
- “Russian Violet”: From July to September, this variety’s pink and dark purple flowers are very pretty. The plant can grow up to two meters tall in places that get some sun or some shade.
- The name “Luna Red” comes from the fact that the flowers are red and can grow up to 20 centimeters across. This type of hibiscus grows best in a sunny, protected spot and only needs light protection in the winter.
- The French name for this type of hibiscus is “Duc de Brabant.” It is a broad-bush shrub that can get up to three meters tall and one and a half meters wide. If you grow this type from July to October, the flowers will be funnel-shaped and blue-red to dark red.
- This type of hibiscus, called “Marina,” can grow up to two meters tall. The flowers are dark blue with a dark red centre.
- “Pink Giant”: The flowers of this type are very big and pink, as the name suggests. It does not grow very tall and is very sensitive to frost, especially when it is young.
- ‘Luna Pink Swirl’: the big flowers are beautiful in shades of white and pink and can grow up to 20 centimeters across. During this process, the plants keep making new flowers all summer long. This type does best in a sunny, protected spot and only needs light protection in the winter.
- “Monstrosus”: This type of hibiscus is not scary, but lovely. It blooms white and turns red towards the centre. The flowering period is from July to October.
- “Blue Bird”: The blue bird’s big blue flowers are beautiful, and they bloom very early in the year, even when it rains.
- “Speciosus”: This type of flower has two white petals with a dark red center. The plant can grow up to two metres tall.
- “Joan of Arc”: This type can get as tall as two meters. It blooms for a very long time, until November, and has white flowers that are half-double. It likes a spot with some shade and loses its leaves in the winter.
- “Coelestis” is a type of hibiscus that can grow up to two meters tall. From July to September it blooms pale purple. A place in partial shade is ideal for this variety.
- “Blue Chiffon” is a fairly new variety that has half-double blue flowers that bloom in the summer and fall. It can grow up to two meters tall and is very hardy.
- “Leopoldii” has double flowers that are soft pink on the outside and red in the middle. The plant needs to be in a sunny to partly sunny spot and can grow up to 1.5 meters tall.
- “Cheeky Point” is a pretty uncommon type of hibiscus. It has white flowers that are half-double.
- That’s right, this type of plant has a red heart because the white flowers have a red dot in the middle of them. It can grow up to 1.5 meters tall in sunny to partly shaded areas and blooms from July to October. In autumn it sheds all its foliage.
- “Lady Stanley” has beautiful pale pink double flowers that turn dark purple in the middle.
- “Ardens”: The flowers on this variety are very big and have a beautiful shape. These bloom in a pretty lilac color and turn red in the middle.
- “Hamabo”: this type of hibiscus can grow up to 1.5 meters tall and does best in a sunny to partly shaded spot. From July to September, the big pink flowers open. ‘Hamabo’ sheds its leaves in winter.
- “Woodbridge”: This type will give you wine-red to purple flowers from July to October.
Garden hibiscus is very suitable for a privacy hedge. Detailed instructions on how to create a hibiscus hedge can be found here.
Hibiscus for Every Growing Zone | Different Types of Hibiscus
FAQ
Which hibiscus flower is best?
1. Cook with it Even though all varieties of hibiscus may be edible, the best variety of hibiscus for edible flowers, leaves, and calyxes is Hibiscus sabdariffa. This plant is used to make a simple syrup for flavoring recipes. The taste is tart, something like a cranberry.
What is the most beautiful hibiscus flower?
The most beautiful types of hibiscusRose hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis): this species is also called Chinese hibiscus or indoor hibiscus. Tarden hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus): this species is hardy and grows very well in the open ground.
What type of hibiscus do you use for tea?
There are 679 species of hibiscus, but only one is used for tea, the roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa). Some hibiscus species might not taste as good, but some species that are used for food are also called “sour.” I’m not seeing any warnings about the flowers being poisonous, so it’s probably safe to try.
What kind of hibiscus comes back every year?
Perennial Hibiscus, commonly known as Rose Mallow Perennial hibiscus are hardy perennials in zones 4-9. Their large stature and dinner plate sized blossoms make them the talk of the neighborhood from midsummer to early fall as they flaunt their tropical looking blossoms.
What are the different types of hibiscus plants?
Plants in this genus include annuals, perennials, shrubs, and even trees. Many hibiscus plants can grow well in containers or other compact spaces, though others are more suitable as tall hedge or border plants. Here are 44 types of hibiscus plants to consider for your garden, porch, or patio.
What is a hibiscus plant?
Hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants that includes hundreds of species and even more man-made hybrids and cultivars. Hibiscus plants are in the same family as mallows and are known for their tall, straight growth and bright, cup-shaped flowers that often have dark centers and big stamens.
What color are hibiscus flowers?
‘Honeymoon Red’ hardy hibiscus plants have velvety red petals with golden yellow center disks. The striking contrast between these two colors makes this variety stand out among other types of hardy hibiscuses. ‘Cranberry Crush’ hardy hibiscus varieties produce deep pink petals with bright yellow center disks.
What is a double Hibiscus?
‘Double’ is an elegant plant with beautiful double delicate flowers. The Double hibiscus variety is unique because it can grow in almost any color. This hybrid can be a rich purple, happy pink, or ferocious red. It depends on the seeds you buy, and sometimes each bush will grow a different color.
Are hibiscus flowers Hardy?
‘Berry Awesome’ hardy hibiscus plants are known for their bright pink blooms with delicate yellow centers. Their blooms measure 6-7 inches across, and their foliage has an attractive glossy green tone. These plants are also very disease resistant, making them easy to maintain throughout the growing season.
Is there a green hibiscus flower?
Several hundred different species of the genus Hibiscus exist, and thanks to the work of many dedicated hybridizers, stunning cultivars are available in a variety of vivid colors, from cool blue to vibrant red – and most in between. Except for green. I haven’t found a green hibiscus flower. Have you?