How to Grow a Hibiscus Privacy Hedge

Hibiscus is a perennial flowering shrub that grows along the Gulf Coast in south Texas, Louisiana and Florida, and in California and Hawaii. In more southerly areas hibiscus blooms nearly all year round. Here’s how you can grow a gorgeous flowering privacy hedge with hibiscus.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• One-gallon potted hibiscus plants
• Organic soil conditioner
• Shrub fertilizer
• Soil pH meter (recommended)
• Cypress mulch

1. Choose a location for your hedge that’s at least 4 feet away from walls or fences, and preferably a spot that gets a few hours of direct sun daily. In mid to south Florida, hibiscus will even thrive on the north side of a wall or fence. More northerly locations will require more sun.

2. Visit a garden shop or nursery and select 1-gallon potted hibiscus in single or double bloom varieties. Double blooms have much fuller flowers and are no harder to cultivate. Avoid dwarf varieties for privacy hedges.

3. Buy enough cypress mulch to surround your hedge with at least 18 inches on every side. Buy a bag or two of organic soil conditioner like peat moss, dehydrated cow manure or compost. If you can afford to buy a soil pH tester it will help you insure that your final soil bed has a pH of 5.5 to 6.5.

4. Clear the ground where you will be planting your hibiscus hedge. Dig holes spaced about 3 to 4 feet apart that are several inches larger around than the root balls. Set rooted shrubs into the holes and backfill with organic soil conditioner. Water the completed row of hibiscus deeply and cover the ground with cypress mulch to about 18 inches around the entire bed.

5. Water hibiscus shrubs heavily once a week during dry periods. Fertilize lightly at frequent intervals with a slightly acidic shrub fertilizer. Fertilize 3 or 4 times between March and November.

6. Prune by cutting back a moderate length of growing branches several weeks after spring growth and occasionally during the growing season until October. During freezing weather, cover hibiscus hedges with tarps or old sheets.

Tips & Warnings

• There are 6 basic hibiscus colors: red, orange, yellow, pink, white and lavender. Double bloom hibiscus commonly have 2 mixed colors like yellow and orange.
• Hibiscus generally does not survive a hard freeze--below 25 degrees F. Cover with a tarp and use strings of Christmas lights for extra freezing protection. Hibiscus can be grown in pots and moved inside in cooler climate areas.

Resources

• Univ. of Florida Extension Hibiscus Webpage
• Hidden Valley Hibiscus