Perennial Hibscus Care

by Anita
(Westfield, IN USA)

Hi I have planted perennial hibscus rose mallow varieties in my backyard here in Indiana, Zone 5. I planted them in 2005 and each year there after they have grown to 3-4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. I planted three together spacing them apart in the beginning about 2 feet between each plant, but now they have grown so large, that they are sort of overtaking each other. How or when is the best time of the year to divide the hibscus or prune it to keep it under control?

Doug says that pruning to keep under control or to bush them up is done in very early growth period. Let them get about 12-inches tall and then cut off the top 3=4 inches of growth. This will force them to bush out more.

Controlling but digging or dividing them is done in the early spring or early to mid-fall just after blooming is done. Of the two, I prefer to divide in the early spring.