Hibiscus flowers from spring through fall, producing one flush of blooms after another if properly trimmed. The perennial, cold-hardy varieties, like rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), usually grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. The less-hardy tropical types grow in warmer USDA zones 9 through 11. Removing the old flowers, or deadheading, can help keep your hibiscus in bloom all season.
Off With Their Heads
Removing old hibiscus flowers before they begin to form seeds encourages the plants to bloom again, because the plant's energy is diverted from seed production back into bud growth. Deadheading also gets rid of the old, dead flowers and keeps the hibiscus looking neat and attractive.
Pinching, Snipping and Shearing
Deadheading individual flowers as they begin to fade requires no tools. Simply grasp the flower stem behind its swollen base and pinch off the old bloom. You can also snip off the flowers with shears, if you prefer. Hibiscus tends to flower in flushes, so you usually have many old blooms to deal with at once. Shearing back the plant provides a quicker means for deadheading than pinching. Cut back the hibiscus by one-third of its height after each flush of flowering finishes, making the cuts above a leaf or bud to encourage branching. Remove the trimmings from the bed after deadheading so they don't provide a home for pests or diseases.
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