How do I winterize my hibiscus tree in Norfolk VA?

Question

How do I winterize my hibiscus tree in Norfolk VA?

Answer 1

Some Hibiscus are more hardy than others, one of the best being Hibiscus x moscheutos, which comes in a range of varieties, including the Fleming hybrid hibiscus ones.

Choose the best warm microclimate in your garden,  and  you will have greater ease of maintaining semi-hardy plants over winter.  South facing borders against walls are generally a little warmer than other parts for example.  If you have a tropical Hibiscus it is really better to keep them as pot grown plants, and take them indoors to shelter for the winter.  Hardy Hibiscus can be left out all year, and have roots as well as stems that are hardy from freezing weather.  

If you want to protect your plants, you can create a mini enclosure, using some wooden poles, stapling plastic around - it's a mini greenhouse in effect.  You can fill this enclosure with dry straw or leaves,  as well as some horticultural fleece.  The same type of protection is also used with semi-hardy palm plants.

Take in tropical Hibiscus before you get frosts, as just one night of freezing can kill a plant.   If your plant's roots get frozen,  it will kill all growth, making resprouting impossible.

Overall,  if you have a tropical Hibiscus, look around for hardy Hibiscus plants too, to complement what you have and make over-wintering an easy task.  Take your tropical Hibiscus inside if you can, or locate it in a warm microclimate and create a good protective enclosure.

Hope this helps.  Good luck!  Rob

Answer 2

first you mush figure out if you have a tropical hibiscus or temperate hibiscus.

tropical hibiscus

glossy leaves

lots of flowers in the color yellow.

cant handle frost

temperate hibiscus

very dull leaves

flower colors very often being ed of pink

some have smaller flowers, but others large

can survive to -20 degrees.

if tropical it will need to be brought indoors. if temperate treat as a perennial and it will come up year after year