Hibiscus Types: 25 Hibiscus Varieties You Should Grow
There's a huge number of hibiscus types that are incredible to see. They come in plenty of flower colors and provide a touch of tropical design in any garden. Elizabeth Cramer has narrowed down her favorites and are sharing those with you.
Contents
It’s the flower of Hawaii, a national symbol of Haiti, and the national flower of nations including the Solomon Islands and Niue. The star-shaped flower of all hibiscus types is sought by gardeners everywhere. With so many different types of hibiscus out there, surely there’s something you can work with.
Whether you prefer tropical hibiscus cultivars, hardy hibiscus, or perennials, most large-scale nurseries and big box stores stock plenty. If your garden needs yellow, red, blue, pink, purple, or white flowers, chances are you’ll find a hibiscus cultivar that meets your needs.
In this piece, we’ll cover some of the most common and most striking hibiscus plants out there. We’ll discuss their width and spread, and whether they are tropical, hardy, or perennial. That way you have some information to take with you to the nursery when you choose your hibiscus plant.
Note that some areas of North America call different species of hibiscus invasive. Consult your local extension office before planting to determine the best cultivars for your region.
African Rose Mallow
botanical name Hibiscus acetosella | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 3-5′ | |
hardiness zones 9-11 |
This African native perennial species gets its cranberry hibiscus botanical name from the slender red foliage and pinkish-red blooms. It’s best showcased in hedges, where the crimson foliage can back other lovely plants. The blooms are small and inconspicuous and present themselves from summer to fall. This plant is hardy in zones 9 through 11 and dies back in winter in areas outside of that hardiness range.
Blue Bird
botanical name Hibiscus syriacus ‘Blue Bird’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 8-12′ | |
hardiness zones 5-9 |
The hibiscus ‘Blue Bird’, botanical name Hibiscus syriacus, is known for its stand-out purplish-blue coloring. A variety that flowers heavily, and loudly, this show-stopper is breath-taking while staying a compact three to four feet tall. With slightly ruffled petals and dark green foliage, it works wonderfully in traditional or cottage gardens. Much like its relative, rose of sharon, ‘Blue Bird’ has a wide range of hardiness from zone 5 to 9. In colder regions, it loses its leaves in winter.
It requires very little maintenance among other types of hibiscus. Gardeners find joy in planting several of these perennials to form a hedge. A single specimen in a container also adds a delightful splash of blue to a space. Because there are very few blue types of hibiscus, we recommend trying this one. It’s drought-tolerant and can survive in poor soils, too.
Blue River II Hibiscus
botanical name Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Blue River II’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 4-5′ | |
hardiness zones 4-10 |
This ‘Blue River II’ is one of the most beloved Hibiscus moscheutos varieties. It’s one of the hardy and shrub-like types of hibiscus that has gorgeous snow-white flowers which bloom from July through September.
It reaches five feet and spreads to three feet, and the blooms span five to six inches across. Parent plants of this adaptable perennial were found along the ‘Blue River’ in Oklahoma and cultivated for home gardens, hence the name.
Checkered Hibiscus
botanical name Hibiscus rosa sinensis ‘Cooperi’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 5-6′ | |
hardiness zones 10-11 |
The Hibiscus rosa sinensis ‘Cooperi’ variety gets its checkered hibiscus botanical name from its varied red, pink, white, and green foliage. While it is sometimes commonly referred to as Rose of Sharon, it’s Hibiscus rosa sinensis, not Hibiscus syriacus. To encourage checkered foliage, expose this plant to full sun and moist soil. Just like the other rosa-sinensis varieties, this plant is tropical and deciduous. All of the varieties mentioned here do best in subtropical and tropical zones.
Chinese Hibiscus
botanical name Hibiscus rosa-sinensis | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 4-10′ | |
hardiness zones 9-11 |
Chinese hibiscus is probably the most popular hibiscus species worldwide, and ironically is one of the tropical hibiscus varieties most commonly shown in photos of Hawaii (although it is grown there, it’s not native to the islands). Hibiscus rosa sinensis or China rose botanical is iconic. This Chinese hibiscus plant screams ‘I’m tropical!’ through vibrantly-colored, readily-identifiable bright red flowers known worldwide.
Believed to have originated in Asia, it comes in many colors with multiple flowers lasting a mere 24 hours. While the flowers themselves will be short-lived, the plants bloom over a very long season – in tropical areas almost year-round. Many birds and butterflies are attracted to Hibiscus rosa sinensis for its large colorful and delicate blooms. The flower is also strangely enough used as a shoe polishing agent in some tropical regions. This Chinese hibiscus variety primarily produces red, pink, orange, or yellow flowers.
Comfortroot
botanical name Hibiscus aculeatus | |
sun requirements Partial shade | |
height 2-3′ | |
hardiness zones 8-9 |
Commonly referred to as comfortroot, big thicket hibiscus, and pineland hibiscus, Hibiscus aculeatus is a small shrub that reaches up to six feet at maturity. Like many hibiscus types, this plant is sought after for its lovely cream-colored blooms with scalloped petals. The blooms have a dark red center. This hibiscus prefers partial shade, and blooms from summer to fall.
Confederate Rose
botanical name Hibiscus mutabilis | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 10-12′ | |
hardiness zones 7-9 |
The confederate rose Hibiscus mutabilis, is originally native to China and Taiwan but is grown all around the world. This tropical hibiscus variety blooms one color before fading to another. It starts the day as a white or pink, and by evening turns a deep red color.
Once the hibiscus flowers turn red, they remain on the plant for several days before dropping. Also known as the dixie rose mallow due to its popularity in the American South.
Flower-of-an-hour
botanical name Hibiscus trionum | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 12-36″ | |
hardiness zones 10-11 |
A compact shrub that grows to about one to three feet in height with ivory-colored petals with a blood-red center, this elegant plant with dark green leaves is a stunner and would fit in well in formal gardens. Commonly called the flower-of-an-hour due to its short-lived petals, it is now grown around the United States as a common garden plant, and even weed in some areas.
Its distinctly-lobed leaves are characteristic of old world plants, seemingly out of time. Many gardeners choose this annual to accent garden borders, and to attract bumblebees and Lepidoptera caterpillars.
Halberd-Leaved Rose Mallow
botanical name Hibiscus laevis | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 4-6′ | |
hardiness zones 4-9 |
A rose mallow that can get up to six feet in height, this plant has large cup-shaped blossoms about three inches long and range in color from pink to white to maroon. It has five distinct overlapping petals that can be found blooming on the plant from late spring to mid-fall. These hibiscus roots can tolerate moisture well and attract many butterflies and birds.
Hardy Hibiscus
botanical name Hibiscus moscheutos | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 2-6′ | |
hardiness zones 4-9 |
Of all the types of hardy hibiscus on the market, this variety looks the most like a giant hollyhock, just on a shrubby base. Hibiscus moscheutos is a compact bush with very showy blooms that range in color from dark red to an off-white. The enormous flowers on this plant are stunning and eye-catching. Blooming from summer through the end of fall, this variety needs full sun and moist soil. It gets its cherry cheesecake botanical name from its white petals swirled with fuschia.
Hawaiian Hibiscus
botanical name Hibiscus brackenridgei | |
sun requirements Full sun and partial shade | |
height 3-15′ | |
hardiness zones 9-11 |
This bright and yellow hibiscus is the state flower of Hawaii! Also referred to as yellow or Hawaiian hibiscus, this tropical hibiscus can at times grow up to 30 feet. More common however are shorter trees or shrubs reaching a more modest height of 15 ft. Flowering from spring through early summer, this is one of the hibiscus varieties with an earlier bloom time.
Seven different species are native to Hawaii, but this one was the lucky favorite to be chosen as the flower for the state of Hawaii. It gets its Hawaiian hibiscus name for that very reason.
Hawaiian White Hibiscus
botanical name Hibiscus arnottianus | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 15-30′ | |
hardiness zones 9-11 |
In Hawaiian, this is known as pua aloalo or Koki’o ke’oke’o and is a beautiful white hibiscus with ovular petals making it one of the odder tropical hibiscus plants. Often crossed with H. rosa sinensis to form a hybrid hibiscus, this species is one of the other native Hawaiian species of hibiscus. It is indigenous to the forests of Moloka’i and O’ahu.
The lovely white blooms have a striking red stamen at the center, giving it a typical tropical look. As the flowers age, they turn slightly pink and take on a subtle and inviting fragrance in the morning. Those in tropical zones 9 through 11 can easily grow arnottianus outdoors, while those outside that range should set up a humid, warm space in a greenhouse.
Lilac Hibiscus
botanical name Alyogyne huegelii | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 4-8′ | |
hardiness zones 9-11 |
This fast-growing evergreen hibiscus blooms four-inch lilac to blue flowers from summer to late fall. It’s native to southwest Australia and does best in zones 9 to 11. Lilac hibiscus is a great accent to border garden beds or to incorporate in a Mediterranean garden. The hairy, palmate leaves are sensitive to frost but thrive in the tropical summer heat. While this isn’t a true hibiscus, it’s so lovely, we needed to give it an honorable mention among this list of hibiscus types.
Lord Baltimore Hibiscus
botanical name Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Lord Baltimore’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 4-5′ | |
hardiness zones 4-9 |
‘Lord Baltimore’ is a cold-hardy tender perennial that thrives in zones 4 through 9. Not only are the blooms massive, but they are also a flashy red, and sit atop tall stems that reach four to five feet tall. Spreading two to three feet wide, this shrub is an excellent addition to cottage gardens. The palmate leaves provide an accent that is atypical to colder regions where it can grow. It does best in moist rich soils and full sun.
Luna Pink Swirl
botanical name Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Luna Pink Swirl’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 2-3′ | |
hardiness zones 5-9 |
A vibrant pink hibiscus, this variety has very showy flowers and is a wonderful container plant. This perennial is one of the varieties that can grow up to three to eight feet in height and produces flowers that range from vibrant pink to pure white flowers.
The ‘Luna Pink Swirl’ name comes from the white petals swirled with light pink. They have a relatively short blooming period from mid to late summer, but the flowers remain for one to two days each. This bush-like variety is great in containers, or the ground in zones 5 through 9.
Phillip Island Hibiscus
botanical name Hibiscus insularis | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 6-8′ | |
hardiness zones 9-13 |
A real funky-looking flower native to Phillip Island off of Australia, this plant only occurs in the wild in two clumps. While it has been propagated by humans elsewhere, no other evidence of this plant in the wild exists! Can you believe it? It’s a truly unique specimen, not just in its exceedingly rare wild growth habit, but also in its starfish-shaped hibiscus flower with clustered, pronounced stamens.
It’s a tropical hibiscus as its native region may suggest, and it’s critically endangered. Incorporating this plant into your privacy screen or hedge is sure to distract passersby, and support the plant in the process.
Rock Hibiscus
botanical name Hibiscus denudatus | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 1-2′ | |
hardiness zones 7-10 |
Native to the US and Mexico, this is one of the more hardy hibiscus types as it can be found clinging to rocks despite its wispy foliage. The small flower opens as a pale purple to pink color. Also called rock hibiscus, this flower is certainly not what people think of when they think of hibiscus flowers! Rock hibiscus, botanical name Hibiscus denudatus is drought-tolerant and makes a lovely small shrub in any desert garden. The flower center is deep red to rust-colored, and blooms in late winter and early spring.
Roselle
botanical name Hibiscus sabdariffa | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 7-8′ | |
hardiness zones 3-10 |
One of the most famous hibiscus varieties, especially in the culinary world, this hibiscus plant also goes by the name of roselle. With beautiful white hibiscus flowers emerging from blood-red flower buds, this is one of the common garden types of hibiscus, especially in herb gardens, due to its use in the drink commonly called ‘Jamaica’. This drink is known for its medicinal properties including… ahem… aiding toilet efforts and regulating blood pressure. It’s enjoyed in Central America in tea form, with lime and sugar. Enjoy responsibly.
Rose of Sharon
botanical name Hibiscus syriacus | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 5-15′ | |
hardiness zones 5-9 |
Usually referred to as rose of Sharon hibiscus, this is a bushing form that can be pretty large. It’s one of the most common hibiscus varieties in garden centers. Able to reach five to fifteen feet, this impressive specimen needs room to grow! It has large oval-shaped leaves and pretty pink ruffled flowers. Growing late into the season and able to tolerate part shade, it’s one of the most widely planted hibiscus trees.
Though it requires little maintenance after planting, Rose of Sharon appreciates pruning before the year’s buds develop. This assists each rose of Sharon hibiscus specimen in drought, poor soils, and varying light conditions. Hibiscus syriacus has a wide range of hardiness from zone 5b to subtropical 9a. It attracts pollinators and works well in cottage gardens, or as a privacy screen.
Sea Hibiscus
botanical name Hibiscus tiliaceus ‘Beach Beauty’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 13-33′ | |
hardiness zones 10-12 |
This hibiscus is a gorgeous ornamental native to a tropical region of Asia or Hawaii. The ‘Beach Beauty’ of the botanical Hibiscus tiliaceus is given for its changing petal color. When this hibiscus type opens its flowers, it has bright yellow petals with a deep red center. As the day goes on, the petals deepen to orange and then finally turn red before falling off the tree – talk about a show!
The plant can reach an impressive height of 13-33 ft. It is now grown in warm and tropical regions around the world and gets its sea hibiscus name from its tendency to grow along waterways.
Sleepy Hibiscus
botanical name Hibiscus furcellatus | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 6-10′ | |
hardiness zones 9-11 |
A Hawaiian native shrub reaching six to ten feet, this is one of the longer-lived hibiscus plants. It’s frequently used as a landscaping plant in containers and hedges, and due to its compact form, is great for screening. It’s very tolerant of high water soils and can even grow alongside waterways in some instances.
Blooming year-round, this showy pink and purple petaled hibiscus stands out against the bright green foliage with heart-shaped leaves. Its light pink to purple flowers give gardens in the tropics a burst of color.
Swamp Rose Mallow
botanical name Hibiscus grandiflorus | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 6-15′ | |
hardiness zones 8-11 |
One of the many bushy rose mallows found throughout the continental US. Frequently found in swamps and marshes throughout Florida, this large-flowered hibiscus has blooms that range in color from white to bright red, pink, and yellow. The petals of this perennial flower are separated rather than laid on top of one another, like other hibiscus species. The shrub grows wild and is prized for its day-long blooms in the southeastern United States.
Texas Star Hibiscus
botanical name Hibiscus coccineus | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 4-8′ | |
hardiness zones 5-9 |
Also commonly known as swamp mallow, or Texas star hibiscus this perennial reaches four to eight feet in height. It has longer leaves and flowers in summer. The swamp rose mallow produces gigantic hibiscus flowers that are truly epic in scale. Scarlet rose mallow is the botanical name of this riparian perennial that grows along ditches and in marshes and swamps. It’s one of those hibiscus types people enjoy installing them along ponds and creek beds. Hibiscus coccineus grows well outdoors in the subtropics and tropics.
Tropical Hibiscus
botanical name Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Mango Liqueur’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 8-16′ | |
hardiness zones 9-11 |
Possibly one of the most striking of the common garden hibiscus types, this cultivar with the hibiscus ‘Mango Liqueur’ has a fluffy bright red flower bordered by a yellow gradient. The blooms are massive, at six to eight inches wide, and last only 24 hours, like other rosa-sinensis varieties. ‘Mango Liqueur’ resulted from the hybridization of the fluffy-flowered ‘Muffin Man’ and the interestingly foliaged ‘Crème de Cacao’. Thus, the best of both worlds come together!
Woolly Rose Mallow
botanical name Hibiscus lasiocarpos | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 3-7′ | |
hardiness zones 5-9 |
The woolly rose-mallow or false cotton plant is a gorgeous true white flower. A short and stubby woody plant native to the US, this deciduous perennial blooms late spring through early fall. Able to grow in many southern US states, it’s native to ponds and ditches, woodlands, and meadows. It tolerates some shade but thrives in full sun.
Each white flower is two to three inches wide with a deep crimson center. When they bloom, these flowers pop from their shrubby greenery. One season of blooms opens up to many more with this dense perennial.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many varieties of hibiscus are there?
There are over 150 different varieties of hibiscus, with about 35 of them native to the continental US.
How do I know what kind of hibiscus I have?
It can be hard to narrow it down to variety, but generally plants with glossy leaves tend to be a tropical hibiscus, while heart-shaped leaves with no gloss tend to be a hardy US and Canada native plant.
What is the hardiest hibiscus?
While no one hardy hibiscus is hardier than the others, some of the more hardy hibiscus varieties are ‘Luna Rose’, ‘Disco Belle Pink’, and ‘Luna Red’.