Hibiscus are famous for their huge, showy, trumpet-shaped flowers, but they’re not all the same plant. Some are tender tropicals for warm climates and containers, while others are hardy perennials or shrubs that survive freezing winters. Choosing the right type for your climate is the key to success. Here are the main types of hibiscus.
How hibiscus are grouped
The hibiscus genus includes hundreds of species, but gardeners mainly deal with a few: tender tropical hibiscus, cold-hardy perennial hibiscus, the shrubby rose of Sharon, and edible types like roselle. The biggest practical difference between them is winter hardiness.
The main types of hibiscus varieties
Here are the main types of hibiscus you’ll come across.
Tropical Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
The classic glossy-leaved hibiscus of tropical gardens and patios, with brilliant flowers in red, pink, orange, yellow and multicolors. Tender to frost, it’s grown as a houseplant or container plant in cooler climates and blooms nearly year-round in warm ones.
Hardy Hibiscus / Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos)
A cold-hardy perennial that dies back each winter and regrows in spring, hardy hibiscus produces the largest flowers of all — dinnerplate-sized blooms up to 12 inches across — from midsummer into fall. It thrives in moist soil and survives freezing winters.
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
A hardy deciduous shrub or small tree, rose of Sharon blooms prolifically in late summer with smaller flowers in white, pink, lavender and blue. Tough and easy, it’s a popular hedge and border shrub in temperate gardens.
Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa)
Grown for its edible red calyces rather than its flowers, roselle is the source of hibiscus tea and “sorrel” drinks. This tender annual is prized in tropical and culinary gardens.
Confederate Rose (Hibiscus mutabilis)
A large shrub whose blooms famously change color through the day, opening white or pink and deepening to red by evening. It’s a striking, old-fashioned favorite in warm climates.
Scarlet Rose Mallow (Hibiscus coccineus)
Also called swamp hibiscus, this hardy perennial has deeply divided, almost maple-like leaves and brilliant scarlet star-shaped flowers. It loves wet soil and adds a tropical look to cold-winter gardens.
How to choose the right hibiscus
Choose your hibiscus by climate. In frost-free areas or as a container plant, grow tropical hibiscus for year-round color; in cold-winter gardens, plant hardy hibiscus (rose mallow) or rose of Sharon, which survive freezing and return each year. For the biggest flowers, choose hardy hibiscus; for a reliable shrub, choose rose of Sharon; and for tea, grow roselle.
Caring for hibiscus varieties
Most hibiscus want full sun and regular water — hardy types especially like moist soil. Tropical hibiscus must be brought indoors before frost, while hardy hibiscus and rose of Sharon are cut back and left to regrow. Feed during the growing season for the best blooms. Learn more in the hibiscus flower profile.
Popular hibiscus varieties to grow
These popular named varieties represent the main hibiscus types:
- Tropical “Fiesta” — a vivid orange tropical hibiscus for pots and warm gardens
- Hardy “Lord Baltimore” — huge scarlet dinnerplate flowers on a hardy perennial
- Hardy “Kopper King” — pale-pink blooms over striking copper foliage
- Rose of Sharon “Blue Bird” — a lavender-blue flowered hardy shrub
- Rose of Sharon “Diana” — a pure white, long-blooming variety
- “Luna” series — compact hardy hibiscus with dinnerplate flowers for smaller gardens
Hibiscus colors
Hibiscus flowers span red, pink, orange, yellow, white, lavender and blue, frequently with a contrasting “eye” at the center. Tropical types offer the widest and most vivid color range, while hardy hibiscus and rose of Sharon focus on reds, pinks, whites and blues. Whichever you grow, the enormous, short-lived blooms are produced in such quantity through summer that there are always fresh flowers opening.
Hibiscus types FAQs
What are the different types of hibiscus?
The main types are tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), hardy hibiscus or rose mallow (H. moscheutos), rose of Sharon (H. syriacus), roselle (H. sabdariffa), Confederate rose (H. mutabilis) and scarlet rose mallow (H. coccineus). They differ mainly in winter hardiness and flower size.
What is the difference between tropical and hardy hibiscus?
Tropical hibiscus is tender and cannot survive frost, so it’s grown as a container plant or houseplant in cold climates and blooms nearly year-round in warm ones. Hardy hibiscus is a perennial that dies back in winter and regrows each spring, producing the largest flowers of any hibiscus.
Is rose of Sharon a hibiscus?
Yes. Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a hardy, deciduous hibiscus shrub or small tree that blooms in late summer with smaller flowers than tropical or hardy types. It’s widely grown as an easy hedge or border plant in temperate climates.
Which hibiscus has the biggest flowers?
Hardy hibiscus (rose mallow, Hibiscus moscheutos) has the largest flowers of all, with dinnerplate-sized blooms that can reach 10 to 12 inches across, appearing from midsummer into fall.
Which hibiscus can you make tea from?
Hibiscus tea is made from the dried red calyces of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), which gives the tart, cranberry-like flavor of hibiscus and “sorrel” drinks. It’s a different species from ornamental garden hibiscus.
Which hibiscus survives winter?
Hardy hibiscus (rose mallow) and rose of Sharon are cold-hardy and survive freezing winters, dying back or dropping their leaves and regrowing each spring. Tropical hibiscus is not frost-hardy and must be protected or brought indoors in cold climates.
See the hibiscus flower profile, the national flower of South Korea (rose of Sharon), and browse red flowers.