Can Hibiscus Plants Be Cut Back in the Fall if They Are Grown Outside?

Hibiscus flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Hibiscus is a plant grown for its trumpet-shaped flowers and full shrubbery. Hibiscus plants include annual and perennial cultivars. Native to temperate climates, perennial hibiscus grown outdoors can be cut back in the fall or in winter.

Types

Tropical or annual hibiscus plants die in cold climates. The tender plants do not survive freezing temperatures. In mild climates, hardy outdoor hibiscus plants go dormant in winter weather and bloom again when soil temperatures rise. Some hardy hibiscus plants survive regular outdoor temperatures below freezing though they may look dead until late spring.

Pruning

Hardy hibiscus plants drop their leaves after the growing season. In the fall, many gardeners cut back hibiscus stems within 3 to 6 inches of the ground. In very cold climates with prolonged freezes, plants may die back completely to the base. The stems are dead and pruned off at ground level before spring. New shoots grow from the base.

Damage

Hibiscus plants grow quickly and may reach 7 feet tall in a season. These plants are vulnerable to wind damage. When tall hibiscus canes are bent or broken, the stem is cut back. Often new side stems grow and bloom on the damaged cane.

References

• University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service: Perennials -- Hibiscus
• Clemson University Cooperative Extension: Hibiscus
• Texas A&M University System AgriLife Extension: Shrubs