How to Plant, Grow, and Care For ‘Luna’ Hibiscus

Hardy hibiscus shrubs are beautiful garden and landscape elements. The 'Luna' cultivar has some of the biggest and loveliest flowers around. Join gardening expert Melissa Strauss to learn how to grow this lovely hibiscus in your garden.

Written by Melissa Strauss Horticulture review by Sarah Jay Last updated: March 16, 2025 | 8 min read

Two light pink flowers with dark red centers and yellow stamens, surrounded by green leaves.

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With their flamboyant flowers, hardy hibiscuses are a great way to bring tropical vibes to your cool-climate garden. They have some of the largest flowers of all perennial shrubs, with some blooms as large as dinner plates!

These flowers have garnered longstanding popularity among gardeners and breeders alike. Some of the most lovely are the ‘Luna’ series of hibiscus cultivars. Here’s how to grow them!

Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Luna™’ Hibiscus Overview

Close-up of a bright pink flower with a deep red center and yellow-tipped stamen.


Plant Type Perennial Shrub Family Malvaceae Genus Hibiscus Species moscheutos	Native Area Cultivated Hybrid (USA) Exposure Full sun to partial shade Height 2’-3’ Watering Requirements Average	Pests & Diseases Leaf spot, rust, caterpillars, scale insects, aphids, Japanese beetles, mealybugs, thrips, spider mites, whiteflies Maintenance Low Soil Type Rich, well-drained, slightly acidic Hardiness Zone 5-9

What Is ‘Luna’ Hibiscus?

Large white flower with a dark red center and soft yellow stamens, blooming above green leaves. — This cultivar series produces extra-large flowers, making it a rare treat for non-tropical gardeners.

‘Luna,’ which encompasses several plants with different colored flowers in the same group, is a hardy hibiscus. These are similar to their tropical cousins, but you can grow them in far colder climates. Their large blooms and prolific flowering habit make them exceptionally popular as landscaping elements and garden focal points.

This particular series of cultivars has extra-large flowers, especially for a deciduous species. Tropical hibiscus typically produces the biggest blooms, so this one is special and a real treat for those of us living north of a tropical climate zone.

Characteristics

Hand holding a large white flower with a red center and yellow stamens against leafy greenery. — *H. moscheutos* hybrids grow from Ontario to Florida; parent species thrive in Eastern Canada and the United States.

‘Luna’ is a series of the species Hibiscus moscheutos, which also goes by the name swamp rose mallow. The species can reach heights up to seven feet tall, but this cultivar typically tops out around three feet. They have single-petal form flowers and come in lavender, pink, red, rose, white, and combinations of these shades.

The blooming time runs from mid-summer until the first frost knocks them down. The blooms are dinnerplate-sized, up to eight inches across. Each flower lasts for only one day, but it produces so many that they bloom nearly continuously.

In colder climates, it dies back to the ground in winter and re-grows the following spring. The shrub has a naturally pleasing shape, forming a compact mound of dark green, maple-like foliage. Darker varieties have red-tinted leaves and veining. They are slightly coarse-textured and have a silvery wash over the underside.

Native Area

A large flowering shrub filled with light pink blooms with darker centers, surrounded by green leaves. — The wild species naturally grows in marshes, swamps, woodlands, and meadows.

This species of hibiscus grows naturally in marshes, meadows, swamps, and wooded areas in Eastern Canada and the United States. The ‘Luna’ series are hybrids, so they have no real native range, but you can find the parent species from Ontario to Florida.

Planting

White flower featuring a bright red center and yellow stamen, blooming against dark green leaves. — Plant hardy species after frost ends, hydrate roots beforehand, and ensure the crown sits at soil level.

The ideal time to plant a ‘Luna’ hibiscus is as soon as the risk of frost has passed and before it comes out of dormancy. Water it ahead of time to hydrate and make the roots more pliable. Dig a hole that is as deep and twice as wide as the root ball. The crown should sit at or just about the level of the surrounding soil.

Backfill the hole, adding any amendments to enrich the soil. Water it in thoroughly. Hibiscus plants are moisture lovers, so they need regular watering for several months after planting. If you’re planting more than one, space them about two to three feet apart.

Growing From Seed

Brown dried seed pods with fibrous texture, split open to reveal seeds inside. — Growing hardy hibiscus from seeds is easy—collect ripe pods in fall when they start splitting.

Growing tropical hibiscuses from seeds can be a challenge, but hardy hibiscus is refreshingly easy to start this way. There are a couple of key steps to remember, that will have you quickly on your way to growing your own shrub.

1. Collect seeds in the fall from ripe seed pods as soon as they start to split.

2. Store your seeds in a cool, dry spot until you’re ready to get started.

3. They need stratification, or exposure to cold, in order to germinate, and there are two ways to do this. You can store them in your refrigerator for the winter, or you can place them in a closed container and leave them outdoors. This will naturally expose them to the cold they need.

4. When you’re ready to get started, soak your seeds overnight in warm water. This helps to soften the outer shell and promote faster germination.

5. Hibiscus seeds have a tough shell and benefit from scarification. You can use a razor blade or emery board to gently nick the outside, being careful not to damage the embryo.

6. Sow seeds in loose, well-draining potting mix about six to twelve weeks ahead of your last anticipated frost date.

7. Keep your containers in a cool spot with bright, indirect light.

How to Grow

Small green seedlings sprouting from dark soil in a round terracotta pot. — Once established, hardy types tolerate drought and heat while producing vibrant blooms throughout a long flowering season.

Hibiscuses are easy to care for as long as you have a general idea of their needs and potential threats. Once established, they tolerate heat and drought well and put on a spectacular floral display for a long blooming period.

Light

White flower with a red center blooming on a tall green stem surrounded by narrow leaves. — *H. moscheutos* ‘Luna’ tolerates partial shade, preferring morning sun and protection from intense afternoon heat.

‘Luna’ hibiscuses can tolerate partial shade, particularly if they get morning sun and afternoon shade. The sun is more intense in the afternoon, and in hotter climates, some shelter from this is usually well-received.

That said, full sun is the ideal state for this shrub. Six or more hours of direct sun daily will give you the most prolific and spectacular flowers.

Water

Hibiscuses are moisture-loving plants, although they will become less needy as they age and develop deeper roots. Their soil should remain moist but not soggy. Overwatering can lead to root rot.

Always water in the morning, as they are prone to powdery mildew. Watering early in the day gives foliage the opportunity to dry off during the day so that fungus doesn’t take hold overnight. As long as your soil has good drainage, you should be able to avoid root fungus.

Soil

This particular species handles wet soil better than most plants. Because it is adapted to swampy environments, soggy soil is less harmful than it could otherwise be. The ideal soil composition is rich in organic material, moist, and slightly acidic. It does fine in sand, clay, silt, and loam.

Temperature and Humidity

Hand holding a spray bottle, misting a pink flower with a red center indoors. — Hardy types survive temperatures down to -30°F but need extra water and thrive between 65°-85°F.

While tropical hibiscuses are not all frost tolerant, hardy species tolerate temperatures as low as -30°F (-34°C). They do die back in the winter, but their roots are exceptionally tolerant of cold temperatures. They prefer to stay in the range of 65-85°F (18-29°C) and will need extra moisture during heat waves.

‘Luna’ hibiscuses prefer moderate humidity. Ideally, they like a range of 60-70%, which is good to keep in mind if you’re caring for this as a house plant.

Fertilizing

Hand holding clumped slow-release osmocote fertilizer granules against a blurred green backdrop. — Use slow-release fertilizer three times yearly—in spring, after blooming starts, and again in mid-summer.

This is a moderately heavy feeder, so fertilizing is a good idea. A balanced formula is usually a good direction to take. However, they are sensitive to phosphorus. A formula with a lower middle number will work best for this shrub.

If you use a water-soluble formula, you can fertilize every two weeks during spring and summer. If you’re using a slow-release formula, three times per year is sufficient. Fertilize in early spring, then again after the first flowers bloom. A third application in mid-summer will keep it blooming into the fall months.

Maintenance

Hands cutting back branches of a flowering shrub covered in pink blooms. — Deadheading spent blooms helps redirect energy into new flowers, extending blooming and keeping the plant healthier.

Deadheading the spent flowers will help your hibiscus redirect energy to new buds, keeping those flowers blooming. Your shrub will naturally drop spent flowers on its own, but it takes longer and more energy goes to them this way.

Because it dies back to the ground in winter, pruning is fairly straightforward. You cut it to the ground once a year, either in the fall or spring. Some prefer to do this in the fall to avoid looking at a bare plant all winter.

Propagation

Several small plants growing in black nursery pots placed on a gravel-covered surface. — Propagate hybrids by division or cuttings for identical plants.

It’s easy to grow this plant from seeds, but since it’s a hybrid, it’s unlikely to breed true. The best way to get a replica of your plant is to propagate by division or cuttings.

Cuttings

Person planting a small leafy cutting into a small orange pot on a wooden surface. — Take six-inch softwood cuttings in late spring, trimming below a node; remove lower leaves before planting.

To propagate with cuttings, you need to have the right tools and the right timing.

1. Take your cuttings in late spring or early summer from softwood. This will root most easily.

2. Use a clean, sharp knife or a pair of shears to cut a healthy stem. Cut a section about six inches long, making your cut just above an outward-facing node.

3. Strip all but the top two or three leaves from the cutting.

4. Optionally, dip the cut end into the rooting hormone to speed up the rooting period.

5. Fill a pot with a well-draining potting mix. A combination of soil and perlite works well for this purpose.

6. Use a pencil eraser or other tool to make a small hole in the soil and insert the cutting with the cut end down.

7. Create a greenhouse effect by covering the pot with a plastic bag to hold humidity.

8. Place your cutting(s) in a warm spot with bright but indirect light and periodically mist it to keep it moist.

Division

Hands separating thick roots from a clump of plants, preparing them for transplant. — Divide plants in spring by digging them up; this yields mature plants faster than cuttings.

Propagating by division is more complicated because you have to dig up the plant to carry this out. Cuttings are easier to work with, but if you want a more mature plant, division will get you there faster. Spring is the ideal time to do this.

1. Dig up your well-established hibiscus, being gentle and careful to keep the roots intact.

2. Use a clean, sharp tool or knife to cut the root ball into sections. Each section should have a stem.

3. Prepare new holes as you would with a new plant, and plant each section in its own hole.

4. Water them in and care for them as any newly planted hibiscus.

Popular Varieties

Pink flowers with dark red centers growing on a lush green shrub. — ‘Pink Swirl’ features petals with white edges and pink centers, producing large, eye-catching blooms.

The ‘Luna’ series of hibiscus breaks down into a handful of varieties of different colors. The red is a gorgeous, velvety shade of crimson. The white variety is pure white with a red heart in the center and cream-colored stamens.

Several shades of pink exist, from hot pink to coral to nearly blush. ‘Pink Swirl’ has whirling petals that are white on one edge and pink on the other. All varieties have large, showy flowers that command attention on rather small plants, comparatively.

Common Problems

Hand holding a green leaf with large holes and damage caused by insect feeding. — Its flowers have a sweet, mild flavor, making it loved by pests.

Sadly, quite a few pests like to munch on this plant. It’s edible to humans and animals, and the flowers have a sweet flavor.

Pests

Small yellow caterpillar crawling along the veins of a light green leaf. — Sawfly caterpillars strip leaves quickly, weakening plants and leaving them susceptible to pests, diseases, and environmental stress.

Sawfly caterpillars and Japanese beetles cause the most serious damage to hibiscuses. They defoliate your plant and leave it vulnerable to other pests and diseases. Whiteflies can also be a problem because they transmit viruses. Aphids and scale insects may also crop up and drain your shrub of nutrients.

Beetles are a problem and more difficult to eradicate than some other nuisance insects. Beetle traps are effective at controlling them and keeping them away from your plants. For other insects, try a strong spray of water to knock down populations and then treat with neem oil to get rid of any leftovers. Spray early in the day, coating with a light mist, avoiding times when pollinators are most active.

Diseases

Large leaf showing yellowing and brown edges, indicating disease or environmental stress. — Watering in the morning and thinning foliage helps prevent fungal diseases like blight, rust, canker, and leaf spot.

Most disease issues you’ll encounter with this plant are fungal in nature. Leaf spot, blight, canker, and rust can all be issues. Overhead and excessive watering are typical causes of fungal disease.

You can avoid these by watering in the morning and thinning the foliage to allow more sun and air to reach the center of the plant. Remove any damaged leaves as they crop up to prevent spread to healthy parts of the plant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Plant these shrubs with other acid-loving plants that like moisture. Hydrangeas make an excellent neighbor.

Yes, not only is it non-toxic, but hibiscus is edible, and the flowers taste sweet.

You can cut back the foliage in fall and cover the roots with mulch or leave the branches intact until spring. Either way, a thick layer of mulch helps to insulate the roots.

How to Plant, Grow, and Care For ‘Luna’ Hibiscus