Hibiscus & Termites

Landscape

• Many hibiscuses grow up to 8 feet tall, but 2-foot to 3-foot dwarf cultivars are also available. Perennial hibiscuses, or plants living longer than one year, take approximately two to three years to mature. Annuals, which live for one year, produces flowers within months of being planted. Some gardeners place hibiscuses in containers and grow them as houseplants. Many hibiscus flowers only live for one day; they grow in the morning and wilt in the afternoon. As tropical plants, hibiscuses do not grow well in environments colder than 55 degrees Fahrenheit; 65 to 75 degrees is preferable.

Species

• Some perennial hibiscus are the scarlet swamp hibiscus, or the Texas Star, and rose mallow. Both flowers grow in the Southeastern United States and have flowers that last only one day. However, new flowers bloom throughout the summer. One of the tallest hibiscus flowers is the Confederate rose, which grows up to 15 feet in some areas. Two annual hibiscus shrubs, the Chinese hibiscus and red leaf hibiscus, grow in tropical conditions. The red leaf hibiscus has red stems and leaves.

Termites

• Termites do not usually feed on hibiscus plants because their primary source of food is wood. Most gardens with hibiscuses are near wood sources for termites, so they do not rely on other plant's for nutrition. Like all plants, though, hibiscus have high amounts of cellulose, making them edible for termites. Cellulose provides nutrition and energy for termites. A hibiscus' stem is not large enough to support a colony of termites, which can have up to 1 million specimens in one colony. Most attacks on hibiscus result from gardeners surrounding the plant with mulch that has been infiltrated by termites.

Other Problems

• Aphids and spider mites are the two primary pests for hibiscus plants, according to the University of Minnesota Extension program. Both pests damage hibiscus by sucking juices from the plant's leaves. Aphid and spider mite populations are difficult to eliminate if gardeners leave them unattended. Insecticides labeled for hibiscus plants are available at lawn and garden centers. Hibiscus plants suffer from fungus-related diseases such as mushroom root rot, canker and leaf spots. Canker is when a hibiscus' branches dwindle back to the plant's stem.