Hibiscus – Killed by Cold

Q: I bought and planted a tree-form hibiscus last year. Its blooms did great. Dropped it leaves in fall. As spring has approached it looks dead. Does it take a bit longer to wake up?

A: I’m sad to say your hibiscus has gone to that great compost pile in the sky…it will not wake up.

I can tell by the braided stem that this is a tropical hibiscus species that can’t survive outdoors in winter.

There are plenty of hibiscus species that DO survive winter though. When you visit a nursery, look for Rose of Sharon, swamp hibiscus, scarlet hibiscus and mallow plants. Some varieties have huge blooms and most come in gaudy colors to brighten a landscape.