Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus x)

 

Hibiscus is often considered a tropical flower, but the hardy hibiscus is a shrubby, woody-stemmed perennial that has been creating by crossing different hibiscus species, including H. moscheutos, H. coccineus, H. laevis, H. militaris, and H. palustris. The result are a group of hybrid plants that are hardy into zones 4 or 5, vastly improving on the tropical preferences of most hibiscus species. These hybrid plants typically grow to about 4 feet tall with large pink or red flowers sometimes as much as 10 inches across.

Hardy hibiscus plants have a shrubby growth habit and woody, but they generally die back in the winter. Cut the stems back to 3 to 4 inches in winter in cooler climates.