How to Raise a Southern Belle Hibiscus
The Southern Belle hibiscus, scientific name Hibiscus moscheuto "Southern Belle," is an herbaceous perennial shrub in the Malvaceae family, grown for the showy, silky flowers it produces from midsummer through the first frost. Easily grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 through 9, Southern Belle hibiscus flowers are prized for their dinner plate-sized red, white, rose and multicolor flowers, which are the largest in the Malvaceae family. You can raise your own Southern Belle hibiscus flowers with a little knowledge and know-how. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Raise a Southern Belle Hibiscus
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Plant your Southern Belle hibiscus seeds or seedlings in a sunny, moist location for optimal growth. Full sun is ideal, though the Southern Belle hibiscus tolerates partial shade, and Southern Belle hibiscus plants prefer a soil pH between 6.1 and 7.8. The Southern Belle hibiscus tolerates slightly sandy soils and even some clay, but compost can be added to amend the soil. Make sure the soil is tamped down firmly around the seedling to ensure there are no air pockets are surrounding the roots.
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Southern Belle hibiscus plants have high watering requirements, and they do best in areas that retain the water well, but don't experience long periods of standing water. This makes the Southern Belle hibiscus an ideal choice for bog gardens or problem areas of your lawn. The Southern Belle hibiscus does not benefit from drying out between waterings, so it's best to maintain a frequent and regular deep watering schedule if your flowers are planted in quick-draining soils.
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Fertilize your Southern Belle hibiscus plants once every six to eight weeks with a balanced fertilizer once they are well-established. Naturally quick-growing specimens, Southern Belle hibiscus flowers benefit from regular feedings of organic materials and fertilization during the growing season, particularly when new growth begins. Mature plants will grow to reach heights between 4 and 6 feet and reseed freely in ideal environments.
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As your Southern Belle hibiscus plants grow, stake individual stems to help it support the weight of the flowers, which can easily bend young, supple stems. Like other hibiscus flowers, the blooms of Southern Belle strains rarely last longer than a day, and it is advisable to remove dead flower heads, as the practice promotes more blossom production through the blooming season.
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Continue caring for your Southern Belle hibiscus through the fall and winter months to ensure healthy growth next spring. Cut stems back to about 3 or 4 inches in late autumn, after the last flowers have fallen. Southern Belle hibiscus plants completely die back to the ground during cold weather, and it is recommended to apply a thick layer of mulch around the base to protect the root system, particularly during the first winter and in USDA zones 4 and 5.
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Tips & Warnings
Before planting your Southern Belle hibiscus, add compost to the soil to create an optimal environment for your seeds to germinate or your seedlings to take root.
Putting mulch around your Southern Belle hibiscus will help retain moisture and suppress weed growth around the base of the plant, as well as protect it from damage during cold winter months.
Southern Belle hibiscus plants are best grown from seeds, which germinate in two or three weeks in temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Growing Southern Belle hibiscus flowers in your garden will attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies to your garden.
Southern Belle hibiscus plants are somewhat susceptible to blights, leaf spots, rusts and cankers, and you will see leaf scorch if soils are allowed to dry out.
Aphids and whiteflies are occasional problems for the Southern Belle hibiscus, and Japanese beetles can greatly damage foliage if left unchecked.
Fertile seeds collected from any southern belle may contain DNA from other hibiscus plants in the area, so new flowers may not be identical to its parent plant.
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