How to Plant Hibiscus in the Fall

Hibiscuses come in varieties of shrubs or small trees and produce showy, trumpet-shaped blossoms that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. These plants are used as solitary shrubs, grouped together to form hedges or pruned to form a single-stem tree. Hibiscuses divide into two main categories--tropical hibiscus that grow best in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 and 10, and hardy hibiscus for zones 5 to 8. Choose healthy hardy hibiscus plants to plant in the fall for best results.

Shovel
Rake
Mulch

Instructions

- 1
  Plant hibiscus plants in locations with full sun and well-draining soil. Use a rake to clear the planting area in the fall of all foliage and debris.
- 2
  Plan enough space for the mature size of the hibiscus variety. Find this information on the marker accompanying the hibiscus, or inquire about this when purchasing.
- 3
  Dig a hole the same depth of the container and two to three times wider. The newly planted hibiscus needs to be planted at the same level in the ground as it was in the container.
- 4
  Remove the hibiscus plant from the container and place it in the hole. Backfill the hole halfway, then flood with water to get rid of any air in the soil. Finish filling the hole, and water again to settle the soil around the hibiscus plant's roots.
- 5
  Add a 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch around the base of the hibiscus plant. Keep the mulch from touching the stem and extend it out as far as the canopy.
- 6
  Supply 1 inch of water each week to the hibiscus plants if there has not been enough rain.

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