Thanks to 250 plus days between freezing temperatures, and more than 50 inches of annual rainfall, Mississippi is a great place to create a mini Montego Bay in the landscape. I am always looking for new and exotic plants for pool or patio areas. I've seen all colors and forms of hibiscus, allamanda, mandevilla, bougainvillea, gingers, plumerias, bananas, heliconias and more. The Chinese hibiscus is by far the most popular. Grown largely in containers, selections and prices have influenced many to plant them in the landscape much as you would an annual.
Hibiscus come in a wide assortment of colors, blends and double-flowered selections.
While many flowering plants like high phosphorous fertilizers, hibiscus do not. Select a complete balanced fertilizer applied monthly. The optimum soil pH is 5.5 to 7.8. Any container plant that you water daily during the summer needs fertilizer more often. Hibiscus cannot tolerate wet feet, so if you plan to grow them in the landscape, raise your planting area as needed.