Hibiscus flowers are one of the most beautiful flowers you can find. And guess what? They can be easily grown in your own home or garden.
Let’s discuss what are the most popular types of Hibiscus and what you can do to properly care for them, whether you opt for a hardy garden variety or a tender house plant.
Types of Hibiscus
In total, there are more than 200 known species of Hibiscus. The most suitable Hibiscus to grow indoors is Chinese Hibiscus, otherwise known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Whereas Hibiscus syriacus, or if we use its other name, Rose of Sharon prefers to be grown outdoors. Hardy Hibiscus syriacus are more widely available that the the tender indoor types, and you will find a superb range of flower colours on offer.
Now, let’s find out a bit more about them.
1. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Apollo’
Hibiscus rosa-Sinensis ‘Apollo’ has very pretty flowers with a mix of yellow, orange, and red colors, making it look almost like a Sun, hence its name, after the Greek god of Sun. This variety was bred especially for larger flowers, so it makes quite an impression in the conservatory or a bright, sunny room indoors.

©Zenflora – Hibiscus ‘Apollo’ produces dazzling flowers!
2. Hibiscus syriacus ‘Pink Chiffon’
Hibiscus syriacus ‘Pink Chiffon’ is quite recognizable, due to its ruffled, double pink flowers that don’t appear until quite late in the summer, but deliver plenty of colour while early summer plants are starting to fade. It really likes direct sunlight, enjoying 6 hours of direct sun per day, so make sure it is placed in a bright location.



©Shutterstock – Hibiscus Pink Chiffon boasts ruffled, double blooms.
3. Hibiscus ‘Starburst Chiffon’
Hibiscus ‘Starburst Chiffon’ will really add an exotic feel to your garden, with its huge semi- double flowers with the crimson-red streaks. This hibiscus species can grow up to 150cm in height and spread, making a fabulous specimen shrub that will really make an eye-catching display.



©De Nolf – Hibiscus ‘Starburst Chiffon’ is a real eye-catcher!
4. Hibiscus ‘Big Hibiskiss’
Hibiscus ‘Big Hibiskiss’ comes with extra big flowers that grow up to 18cm (7”) across! It makes an incredible focal point for late summer borders. This impressive variety comes from British breeding, with flowers that are much flatter than most other varieties.



©De Jong – Hibiscus ‘Big Hibiskiss’ has been bred for extra-large flowers.
5. Hibiscus syriacus ‘Oiseau Bleu’
Hibiscus syriacus ‘Oiseau Bleu’ is a real head-turner for its silky blue flowers. Like many Hibiscus it is often one of the last plants in the garden to begin leafing-up after winter – often not until May. It’s worth waiting for though, as the late summer flowers will keep going right into autumn.



©Shutterstock – Hibiscus ‘Oiseau Bleu’ flowers right through to autumn.
Hibiscus Care
Watering
First of all, most Hibiscus like moderately wet soil, with the ability to drain well. This means that if you are gardening on clay soil, you may need to mix in some grit, sand and garden compost when planting , to increase its drainage.
If you are growing it in a pot then make sure that there are plenty of drainage holes in the base of the pot to allow good drainage, and prevent it becoming water-logged.
Pot grown plants will need regular watering during the summer months. Plants grown in borders should be able to look after themselves once they are established, so you will only need to water them for the first month or two after planting.



©Shutterstock – Hibiscus are quite low maintenance once they are established in borders.
Sunlight
Hibiscus likes sunlight, so whether you are growing a hardy variety outdoors or a tender houseplant, make sure that they are in a bright spot.
Fertiliser
You can use fertiliser to help your hibiscus to grow. Feed them with a liquid plant food every 4 weeks from spring to late summer.
Pruning
Indoor Hibiscus rosa-sinensis won’t really need pruning so there’s no need to worry if you are growing this type.
Hardy Hibiscus syriacus should be pruned in in late spring, just as the leaf buds are opening. Remove any dead or damaged branches, and lightly prune the rest to shape the plant.
As you can see, Hibiscus plants are really easy to grow and don’t need a lot of special care. You can enjoy their bright flowers outdoors or in your home. Wherever you grow yours, you will love its exotic-looking flowers!
Visit our hub page to learn more about exotic plants including how to grow different types of tropical flowers and fruit. Or if you want to pick up tips on growing summer flowering plants, take a look at our helpful hub page.



Sara Elizabeth Taylor has been a lover of things that grow, and that love has been a major part of her life. She’s a biologist specialising in flora and is also a passionate indoor gardener. You can find her at @indoorgardennook.
Within her house, located in the middle of the bustling city, Sara hides her lush and beautiful indoor garden, full of both decorative plants and of various fruits and vegetables. Throughout the years she has amassed a lot of experience regarding gardening and is more than eager to share all of her knowledge and exchange tips and tricks with gardening enthusiasts both young and old.
“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.”
Something is eating our hibiscus buds and flowers, although nothing
Is visible, and the plants are very healthy with lots of buds coming even now. Can anyone help.
Hello
Its very hard to diagnose a problem without further information or seeing the problem. It could be any number of pests if your are growing your plants in the garden, but if the plant appears generally healthy then it is probably outgrowing the damage anyway. In greenhouse or conservatory conditions, Thrips are known to cause damage to Hibiscus.
All the best
Sue
Am interested in knowing the NAMES of various variants of Hibiscus with their pics for my Hobby and scrapbook.Thanks