How to Grow Purple Hibiscus

Sometimes called the “blue hibiscus,” Alyogyne huegelii actually produces lovely lilac-colored flowers. No longer a member of the Hibiscus genus, purple hibiscus, nonetheless, bears a resemblance to its more tropical cousin. Purple hibiscus flowers have overlapping petals, resembling an airplane propeller or whirligig. Native to Australia, the shrub is rugged and requires little care if grown within zones 10a and above on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Grow purple hibiscus in full sun.

Mulch
Pruning shears

Instructions

- 1
  Water the newly-planted purple hibiscus once a week for the first month. Established shrubs require no supplemental water except during periods of extreme drought. During those periods, water to a depth of 12 inches once a month.
- 2
  Spread a 3-inch layer of organic mulch on the soil around the purple hibiscus. Rake it from 4 inches away from the base of the shrub to 1 foot beyond its widest point.
- 3
  Prune the purple hibiscus shrub after the spring blooming period. Cut it back as hard as needed to keep it to the size and shape you want. Prune again in late summer to remove spent flowers and broken stems and to shape it and control its height.

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