Hibiscus

Large, arresting flowers in succession from spring to autumn.

Scientific name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Family: Mallow family
Also known as: Chinese hibiscus

Ornamentals

Chinese hibiscus carries the largest single flower of any common ornamental shrub here. Each bloom lasts only a day or two, but the shrub produces continuously from spring to autumn, so the display keeps renewing itself all season.

At a glance

Plant typeShrub
WateringEvery 1–2 weeks
LightFull sun
Comfortable range20 – 38 °C
Height1 – 5 m
Spread1.5 – 3 m
FloweringSpring through autumn

Care guide

Watering

Every one to two weeks with slight surface drying between. Continuous flowering costs water, so don't let it dry out hard at peak season or the buds will drop before they open.

Light and heat

Full sun for the heaviest flowering, with light afternoon shade in the hottest regions.

Soil and feeding

A balanced, potassium-rich feed monthly in spring and summer, less often in autumn and winter. Use water-soluble formulations and always water after feeding.

Pruning

Prune in late spring after the flush: clear weak stems and set the shape. Never take more than a third of the shrub in one cut.

Propagation

Stem cuttings a few centimetres long from non-flowering growth, in free-draining soil with steady moisture and indirect light.

In Saudi conditions

It does well in containers near entrances and pools, where the flowers are seen close up. In Riyadh and the interior it needs a position sheltered from dry summer wind, which desiccates the buds before they open.