How to Care for a Variegated Sea Hibiscus

The variegated sea hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus) grows wild on or near beaches in Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Samoa and other regions in the tropics. A rugged bushlike tree, it grows surprisingly well in the worst of soils, including clay, mud and brackish swamps. Flowers begin the day in various shades of yellow and turn pink before dying in the evening. Growing to 30 feet in height, the variegated sea hibiscus needs little water and even less care when grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 10 and above.

Pruning shears, loppers and saw
Ladybug beetles

Instructions

- 1
  Plant the variegated sea hibiscus away from the home's foundation, sidewalks and other landscape structures as the roots are aggressive and invasive.
- 2
  Provide the variegated sea hibiscus with full sun or partial shade. Growth is slower in the shade.
- 3
  Water the variegated sea hibiscus to a depth of 12 inches once a month if there is no rain. Supply the water slowly so that it moistens the plant's entire root ball.
- 4
  Train the variegated sea hibiscus into tree form, if desired, early in its life. Remove all the branches below the height of the canopy that you desire for the tree. Keeping it in tree form requires frequent pruning.
- 5
  Prune the variegated sea hibiscus to keep it to the size you want. The branches curve and tangle, making it a challenge to prune in maturity. The plant tolerates heavy pruning and even pollarding.
- 6
  Inspect the variegated sea hibiscus periodically for signs of the pink hibiscus mealybug, which is a tiny pink insect. Look for pink or orange eggs on the undersides of leaves. Curling, distorted leaves are a symptom of an infestation. There is no known insecticidal control for this pest, but suppression of their numbers may be successful with ladybug beetles.

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