Download Article
Learn when and how to trim your hibiscus plant
Download Article
If your hibiscus is looking overgrown or isn’t producing as many flowers as it used to, it may be time for a prune. Pruning can help encourage new growth and more blooms. We have everything you need to know about pruning your hibiscus, including when to prune, how to do it, and how much to prune at a time. With a bit of corrective cutting, your garden will be full of healthy new hibiscus buds.
How do you prune a hibiscus?
Choose an overgrown branch, then follow it back about a third of the way. Find a node that points in the direction you want a new branch to grow—usually outward. Use a sharp, sterilized pair of garden shears or loppers to cut about 1 ⁄ 4 in (0.64 cm) above the node at a 45° angle.
Steps
Section 1 of 3:
How to Prune a Hibiscus
Download Article
-
Prune hibiscus in the spring or fall, depending on your location and climate. In general, you should prune a hibiscus in mild, sunny weather. Spring is usually best since there will be plenty of time for the plant to put on new growth before the summer blooming season, although it may delay flowering by a few weeks. Fall pruning should only be done if there’s no chance of a frost that can damage the plant. [1] X Research source
- Prune in spring if:
- Your hibiscus is planted in the ground and you get frosts during the winter
- Your hibiscus is in a container and you keep it in a shady spot through the winter
- Prune in fall if:
- Your hibiscus is planted in the ground and you live in a frost-free area
- Your hibiscus is in a container, and you keep it in a sunny spot through the winter
- Prune in summer if:
- You’re only doing light pruning to remove overgrown or damaged branches
- Prune in spring if:
-
2Decide ahead of time what size and shape you want the hibiscus to be. Examine the plant and think about what you want the finished product to look like before you start cutting. Identify the overgrown branches that you want to cut back first. Once you clear those out, it will be easier to see where additional cuts are needed. [2] X Research source
- Hibiscus are hardy plants that can tolerate fairly heavy pruning, and it’s common to cut them back by a third or even half each year.
- Plan to prune the hibiscus just a little smaller than you want the actual plant to be, since pruning will encourage new growth.
- Check out our section on pruning techniques if you’re not sure how much to cut at one time.
Advertisement -
Plan to cut branches back by about 1/3 to 2/3. This will create a more natural, bushy shape. If you only trim the tips of the branches, the new growth may create unnatural-looking forks on the ends of each branch. [3] X Research source
- This guideline doesn’t apply if you’re pinching back new growth on a young plant.
-
4Follow each branch back to a node that faces where you want new growth to go. Go from the tip of the branch back to about where you want to make your cut. Look for a node, or the small bump where a leaf emerges from the branch. This is where new growth will come from, so choose a node that points in the direction you want the new branch to grow. For instance:
- If your plant is growing straight upward: Choose outward-facing branches to create a bushier plant.
- If your plant spreads too much: Choose inward-facing nodes to encourage a tighter growth pattern.
- If a branch is growing horizontally or downward: Choose an upward-facing node.
- If you want to fill in a sparse area of the hibiscus: Choose a node that points into the gap.
-
Make a clean cut 1 ⁄ 4 in (0.64 cm) above that node at a 45° angle. Use a sharp pair of garden shears or loppers to make a clean cut just above the node that you selected. Avoid tearing or stripping away the bark—this could leave the hibiscus vulnerable to pests or infection.
- Sterilize your garden tools with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer before you cut to avoid spreading disease from one plant to another. [4] X Research source
- The lower end of each cut should be near the center of the bush, while the higher end of the cut should be nearer to the outside of the bush. This helps water run off the cut surface instead of pooling, which reduces the risk of infection.
-
6Continue pruning until the hibiscus has a balanced, symmetrical shape. Trim all of the branches you originally selected to get the basic shape you’re after. Then, prune any branches that are crossing or rubbing against each other, as well as any branches that are dead or damaged.
- The number of branches you prune will depend on the technique you’re using. If you’re just doing regular maintenance pruning, you might only take off 2 or 3 branches, but if you’re hard pruning, you might remove most of them.
- Once you get the basic shape you’re after, step back and look at the plant. Check whether it looks symmetrical, making any small adjustments as needed.
-
7Fertilize after pruning to promote new growth. Fertilizer can help your hibiscus start putting out new growth faster, which could help you get a more vigorous flush of blooms. Too much phosphorus can damage a hibiscus, so choose a fertilizer with low phosphorus levels. Phosphorus is the middle number in a fertilizer’s NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) ratio. Good options include:
-
8Propagate the cuttings if you want new shrubs. If you want to add new hibiscus shrubs to your collection, try growing a whole new plant out of your cuttings. “Just take your cutting and dip the cut end in rooting powder,” says plant specialist Tyler Radford. “Then put that directly into soil.” [5] X Expert Source Tyler Radford
Plant Specialist Expert Interview- “Most hibiscus start pretty easily,” adds Radford. “Some, like the mallow types, will root even without rooting powder.” [6]
X
Expert Source
Tyler Radford
Plant Specialist Expert Interview
- “Most hibiscus start pretty easily,” adds Radford. “Some, like the mallow types, will root even without rooting powder.” [6]
X
Expert Source
Tyler Radford
Advertisement
Section 2 of 3:
Pruning Techniques for Hibiscus
Download Article
-
Pinch pruning: Encourage bushier young plants Pinch pruning involves pinching or cutting the ends of the branches near the top of the plant. This can help stimulate outward growth. Pinch off about the top branches, removing several nodes. Once it grows back, pinch it back again, but not quite as far as you did the first time. Do this 2 or 3 times as new growth appears. [7] X Research source
- When to use this technique: This technique is best to encourage a bushier appearance on young hibiscus plants.
-
Selective pruning: Maintenance of an established plant This technique involves pruning about 2 or 3 branches back about a third of the way every few months. That way, you’ll encourage healthy blooms while still maintaining the general size and shape of the bush.
- When to use this technique: If you do selective pruning every 4–6 weeks throughout the growing season, it will help you maintain a healthy, attractive hibiscus plant.
-
Full pruning: Annual clean-up Full pruning involves taking more vigorous cuttings early in the season, so that you produce the loveliest crop of flowers available. Full prunes are bittersweet—although they do cause your bush to produce the most flowers, they require cutting back nearly all of the branches. Cut each branch on the hibiscus bush back by about 1/3 to 2/3, ensuring that at least 2–3 nodes remain on each branch. [8] X Research source
- When to use this technique: Full pruning can help encourage more blooms throughout the summer, and it can help prevent your hibiscus from becoming overgrown.
-
Corrective pruning: Clean up damaged branches If you notice damaged or diseased branches on the plant, prune them back to where they’re healthy. [9] X Research source Scrape off a tiny bit of bark with your fingernail until you see green wood, then make your cut there. Hard, white wood is dead and will not recover. Be sure to sterilize your blade after every cut to avoid spreading illness from one part of the plant to another.
- When to use this technique: Corrective pruning is done to remove dead or damaged branches.
- If you have a hardy or swamp hibiscus that dies back in the winter and regrows in spring, remove the old, dead branches as soon as new growth starts to appear in spring.
-
Hard pruning: Drastic rejuvenation A hard prune involves cutting down all the branches on the hibiscus almost all the way back to the base of the plant. This is a pretty dramatic prune, and it can take a while for the hibiscus to recover, so don’t do a hard prune more than every 3–5 years. Only hard prune in the spring, and be sure to leave some leaves so the plant will be able to produce new growth. [10] X Research source
- After a hard prune, the hibiscus may not bloom again until the following year.
- When to use this technique: A hard prune should only be done if a hibiscus bush is dramatically overgrown, isn’t putting out many flowers anymore, or is nearly dead.
-
6Standard pruning: Pruning into a tree shape Start with a hibiscus that has a straight stem that’s at least 2 ft (0.61 m) tall. Remove any stems that are lower than about 6 in (15 cm) below the top of that main stem. Leave about 3–4 stems at the top, and trim those stems so they form a rounded “tree-top” shape. Remove any new side shoots that emerge from the bottom of the main stem, and regularly pinch back the top branches to maintain the shape of your plant.
- When to use this technique: If you want your hibiscus to look like a tree instead of a shrub.
- To create a braided hibiscus: Plant 3 hibiscus together and trim them using the standard pruning method. Weave the stems together in a braided pattern while the plants are still young and malleable.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search
-
QuestionWhen can I prune my hibiscus?Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.The best time to prune hibiscus is just before the weather warms in the spring.
-
QuestionIs a hibiscus a perennial?Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.Yes, hibiscus is a perennial plant. Pruning it each year will encourage a full shape and lots of flowers.
-
QuestionMy hibiscus are lovely, green and healthy; they begin flower well; but then the leaves turn yellow and start to drop in the growing season. Any idea why?Community AnswerToo much water will turn them yellow. Not enough water will turn them brown.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
- Pruning is a good time to check for hibiscus beetle. Spray if needed, as the beetle attacks new buds as they appear. If there are signs of the beetle, spray every two weeks through the growth season.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/lawn_garden/ornamentals/trees_shrubs/growing-the-tropical-hibiscus-in-louisiana
- ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/houseplants/hibiscus
- ↑ https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/pruning-hibiscus/9428102
- ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/clean-and-disinfect-gardening-tools
- ↑ Tyler Radford. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview
- ↑ Tyler Radford. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/general-pruning-techniques
- ↑ https://plantura.garden/uk/trees-shrubs/hibiscus/pruning-hibiscus
- ↑ https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/general-pruning-techniques
About This Article
Article Summary
X
It’s generally best to prune a hibiscus in the early spring, especially if you want to do a full prune. Before pruning your plant, sterilize your pruning tools with rubbing alcohol or a horticultural disinfectant to prevent making your hibiscus sick. Always make your cuts at a 45° angle, and avoid cutting off more than 2/3 of a branch. If you’re just trying to encourage a little new growth in a young plant, try a light pinch prune. Snip off the very ends of branches near the top of the plant about ¼ inch (0.6 cm) from the top of the highest growth node (where leaf buds emerge from the stem). You can also do a selective pruning to cut back branches that are sticking out well beyond the rest and making your hibiscus look leggy. Look for growth nodes about 1/3 of the way from the top of the branch, and make the cut there. If you notice any dead or diseased branches, cut those off as far down as you have to until you reach healthy, green wood. If you’re looking to grow the best possible crop of flowers, try doing a full prune in early spring. Cut all the branches back far enough so that there are only 2-3 nodes left on each branch. As the growing season progresses, your hibiscus should produce lots of healthy new blossoms and leaves. For more pruning tips, like what kind of tools to use, keep reading!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 929,946 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "It showed me exactly where to cut and why. Plus, I never knew to prune a plant leaf that is facing outwards. These were excellent pictures. I have a plant with big, dark leaves and some are dying. What's worse, I don't know if it's called a peace plant or what." ..." more
Advertisement
96%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"It showed me exactly where to cut and why. Plus, I never knew to prune a plant leaf that is facing outwards. These were excellent pictures. I have a plant with big, dark leaves and some are dying. What's worse, I don't know if it's called a peace plant or what."
..."
more
"I learned where to cut when pruning a hibiscus tree, as well as what time of year to begin pruning both, which were very important to me. Also, the video attached to the article was very informative. Now I'm more determined then ever to save my hibiscus."
..."
more
"The article was very specific about trimming of hibiscus. This photo is one of a hibiscus tree which I want to trim back in hopes it will thicken the limbs and foliage and blooms. I do not have the name of this variety, but I have had it two years."
..."
more
"Relieved that hibiscus may be pruned more radically, since I have a very large braided hibiscus that is not only losing its shape, but is getting so large that it is hard to move and cover for winter. Also may have been over-watering!"
..."
more
"I should have read this article first. I think I have killed my hibiscus. Living in the northeast, my hibiscus was planted in the ground. I brought in for the winter and now pruned it down, although your article says prune in spring. "
..."
more
