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HIBISCUS

HIBISCUS IS A “don’t try this in your home” cautionary tale. This is a gorgeous summer potted plant. Depending on the version you select (and the hibiscus color range is pretty much unrivaled in the tropical realm), you could have flowers in orange, lavender, red, pink, or white, or psychedelic combinations of these shades. Dream of flowers the size of Frisbees? They’re yours. Want them on a bush that bristles with bloom? No problem. But don’t try to replicate that performance during the heating season indoors. It’s not going to happen.

Hibiscus are a delight outdoors. They aren’t difficult to grow; just about anybody with some sun and a watering can (or, better still, a hose) can entertain hibiscus. You could even start with something fairly inexpensive and coax it into impressive size before summer’s end. But when frost arrives and it’s time for reintroduction into the home, wave a fond farewell to your hibiscus. It won’t translate into life indoors.

I’ve tried with hibiscus inside. A well-meaning friend once gave me her variegated Hibiscus rosasinensis ‘Cooperi’ to babysit when she went to Florida for winter. Of course, she figured she was doing me a favor. And I’m sure she meant well. But a winter of struggle ensued while I tried to keep the darn thing foliated. Its dimensions fit my home. ‘Cooperi’ is compact and can be kept 2 to 3 feet (61–90cm) in diameter. But as soon as the furnace started to roar, it began shedding leaves. That’s a typical reaction—talk about a plant that tortures you for your hospitality.

Most of the hibiscus on the market are Hibiscus rosasinensis hybrids. And they all display their distaste for heating systems by unceremoniously dropping their leaves. Sometimes it’s a dramatic protest that happens overnight. In other instances, they slowly shed leaves one at a time. By midwinter, they are virtually naked. Because my ‘Cooperi’ was someone else’s babysitting favor, I kept it in that sorry condition until summer and then put it outside in the fresh air. Only then did it begrudgingly produce leaves again. A month later, it looked just fine. No one was the wiser.

Just a note to anyone who thinks they might have more luck than I did. When hibiscus come indoors, they tend to attract insects who feast on weakening plants in the process of decline. We’re talking about the full spectrum of pests, including spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, scale, and mealy bugs (am I leaving anything out?). In other words, they are a liability for the entire horticultural home team. When they don’t go naked, they are a worse problem than when they strip.

All warnings out of my system, there’s nothing wrong with a summer romance with a hibiscus. They can tolerate baking sun, hot temperatures, and high humidity. They prefer to be watered regularly. And they need plenty of fertilizer and regular container promotions to maintain their deep-green foliar color. If given those conditions, they will reward you with blossoms like you’ve never experienced. Go ahead. Put a hibiscus around the pool, on your deck, or wherever they can bask in the beams. Their leathery leaves will even stand up against the winds outside your coastal cottage. But kiss that baby good-bye when cold weather comes.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

HIBISCUS