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