Hardy Hibiscus Growing From Seed

[Garden Group]

I never thought to try these but a neighbour of mine has one plant growing at the front of his house and it is beautiful from late July to September. I have a spring, early to mid summer garden and not much of interest in the later part of summer. This would be perfect. Has anyone had any success growing them from seed or do you grow them at all. I've been told they can survive of winters if planted in a sheltered spot. My neighbour's looks something like this:

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I never grew them from seed. There are my second favorite flower. When the weather starts to cool, I move them closer to the house, a little at a time so when it is too cold for them to be outside, bringing them inside isn't such a shock. Sometimes they survive and give me flowers the next season and sometimes they are just green leaves - like last years.  but it is alive. Maybe I will get flowers next year. I bought this one this year, the same as the one from last year. The color of the flowers are just so different. I got lucky to find it again!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We are in Southern Ohio where it can get below zero during the winter occasionally and I have one of these that has survived the last 4 winters.  I love them.  I cut them back to the ground each year and it comes back.  I originally planted two and one didn't survive.  I didn't start from seed though.  Ours I think started blooming in July and will bloom until the first frost.

[kristine & Auggie]

I have two different colors that I have started from seed. The second year they really took off and looked great.  They die back in our winters but come back again bigger the next year.  I ordered my seeds from one of those cheezy catalogues that said Giant Hardy hibiscus and they really are huge and hardy.

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Welcome to the group. This is great to know. I may try this next year.

[kristine & Auggie]

As I was rethinking this last night I remembered that when I ordered my hibiscus from  the catalogue it wasn't in seed form, it was more like a small plant start.  I would always go with a start instead of seeds, I don't have very good luck with seeds.  They sure are gorgeous though.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks for the info and suggestions.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

If that is indeed a hardy hibiscus, also called rose mallow, it will survive into region 4 and some parts of region 3 according to "how to".  In southern California it seeds itself all over the place and it a bit of a pest, popping up where it is not wanted.  If you decide to grow it from seed I would definitely start it indoors and let it get to four or six inch size before transplanting.  In cold areas like yours it will die completely back in the winter, but should come back in summer.  How to says it will often be a bit later than other plants before it shows new leaves.