Pruning Perennial Hibiscus

by Olga
(Grand Rapids MI)

Can I still trim (cutting down the old stalks) it in the spring or wait now for fall? Do you even recommend trimming? It's about 5' tall & about 3' wide & 2 years old.

Doug says that he cuts his right to the ground in the fall (or very early spring if he's lazy in the fall). This plant starts growing very late in the spring so you can cut it right back with no worries. Besides, in Michigan, it's not going to be producing a lot of growth on last year's stems anyway. (if any) :-) So whack all old ones back and let the new ones bloom for you.

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Pruning Perennial Hibiscus

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slow to emerge
by: jane w.

barb, just be patient..hardy hibiscus is about the last plant to peek thru the ground in late spring. you'll think it will never start to grow and all of a sudden, those shoots are five inches high! Patience!

Perennial Hibiscus
by: Barb

We purchased a new home during the winter, and are slowly discovering the different plants growing in the garden beds in the backyard. (Exciting!) One plant had tall stalks, and you could see where past growth had been cut back, but we weren't sure what it was. Someone said they thought it was a hydrangea that had died off and needed to be dug up. Ran in to the previous owners and she said it was a hibiscus and it wouldn't really start doing anything until late May. I don't even see any new growth coming out of the ground. Since I'm not familiar with them, should I just be patient and wait a few more weeks? What about fertilization?

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Doug Green