Common Types Of Hibiscus: What Are The Different Hibiscus Varieties?

Say “hibiscus” and most of us picture a big, glossy tropical flower on a patio. But the name covers a whole crowd of plants: tropical shrubs, tough native perennials that die to the ground every winter, woody shrubs that shrug off cold, and even a tart plant grown for tea.

Knowing which one you have tells you how cold it can take, how wet it likes its roots and when to prune. Let’s meet the most popular types.

What Makes a Hibiscus a Hibiscus?

A top-down arrangement of pink, orange, lavender, yellow, red, and cream hibiscus blooms with prominent staminal columns rests atop glossy green leaves on a stone path.

Hibiscus (say it hih-BIS-kus) is a large genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae, the same family as okra and cotton. The genus name is the old Greek and Latin name for mallow. There are about 35 species of native hibiscus in the United States alone, also called rosemallows.

The flowers give the family away. Look for five showy petals around a prominent central column that carries the stamens. Each bloom is a short show: hibiscus flowers often last just a day, but the plant keeps producing new ones over a long flowering season.

In landscapes, hibiscus work as informal hedges, screens, foundation plants and specimens. They also do well in containers: see our guides to hibiscus grown in pots and the braided hibiscus tree, which can combine plants with different colored flowers.

The Three Big Groups

Most hibiscus you’ll buy fit one of three groups. Get this right and the care advice starts to make sense.

Tropical hibiscus. Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) and its many hybrids. Evergreen, frost tender, and native to Asia. In cold climates it spends winter indoors.
Hardy perennial hibiscus. The native rose mallows, such as Hibiscus moscheutos and Hibiscus coccineus, and the big-flowered hybrids bred from them. Perennial hibiscus freezes back to the ground each winter in all but the warmest parts of South Carolina and regrows in spring. More on hardy hibiscus.
Woody hardy shrubs. Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) keeps its woody frame through winter and drops its leaves. Confederate rose (Hibiscus mutabilis) dies back in winter in most of South Carolina, but may stay a woody shrub on the warmer coast. Both come from Asia, not North America.

Bringing a tropical one through the cold? Bring Chinese hibiscus indoors when nighttime temperatures fall into the lower 50s °F. Make sure the pot drains well: UF/IFAS says hibiscus need well-drained soil and do not tolerate saturated soil or “wet feet.” More on Hibiscus Winter Care.

Types of Hibiscus

Here are the hibiscus types gardeners ask about most, plus two famous look-alikes.

A potted Chinese hibiscus shrub bears several ruffled orange-red and golden blooms among glossy green leaves on a sunlit tiled patio beside a stucco wall.

Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis (Chinese Hibiscus)

The Chinese hibiscus is the best-known tropical hibiscus, the one commonly seen in garden centers and landscapes. It is a tropical, evergreen woody shrub native to Asia; its species name, rosa-sinensis, is Latin for “rose of China.” It is believed to be native to China and reached Florida by way of the South Pacific and Hawaii, and most of the varieties sold today are probably hybrids.

This evergreen hibiscus bush can bloom for much of the year where it stays warm: the flowering season is nearly all year in southern Florida. It is hardy in USDA zones 9a to 11b. The color range is huge. There are six basic colors (red, orange, yellow, white, lavender and brown) plus endless combinations, in single and double forms, and the yellow, apricot and orange shades are colors you won’t find in hardy hibiscus.

Do hibiscus need full sun? For Chinese hibiscus, the sun needed varies by variety, but half a day of direct sunlight is generally the minimum, and it prefers a slightly acidic soil, pH 5.5 to 6.5. It is also sensitive to environmental changes, so moving the plant can cause leaf and bud drop. Details on Hibiscus Sun Requirements.

A single red-centered hibiscus bloom fades to orange and yellow at its ruffled petal edges, with a protruding pollen-tipped stamen and nearby bud among glossy leaves.

Hibiscus Syriacus (Rose of Sharon)

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is the tough one. NC State Extension describes it as a large, fast-growing deciduous shrub or small tree, 8 to 12 feet tall, native to south China and Taiwan. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9 (some listings give zones 5 to 8).

The name is a bit of a fib. The Missouri Botanical Garden says the species name suggests the plant comes from Syria, which appears to be false because it is native to eastern Asia. It also calls rose of Sharon very tolerant of summer heat and humidity and generally tolerant of urban conditions.

Flowers come in red, white, violet, purple and two-toned forms, single or double, over a long bloom season from June to October. One caution: species plants can self-seed aggressively in good growing conditions. Rose of Sharon has been reported to be invasive in some states, including Virginia and Kentucky, and some cultivars readily produce offspring from seed.

Learn What the Difference is Between Rose Of Sharon vs Hibiscus

Hibiscus Moscheutos (Rose Mallow, Swamp Mallow)

The Hibiscus moscheutos (swamp mallow, hardy hibiscus) is a hardy native. It is a Southeastern native that grows in marshes, wet meadows, swampy forests and wet ditches, hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. The USDA PLANTS Database gives its common name as crimsoneyed rosemallow, and you’ll see why: its white, pink, red or burgundy flowers have a contrasting central eye of red or burgundy.

This is a plant for moist ground, not dry spots. It prefers wet to constantly moist soils and is heat, humidity and wet soil tolerant. It blooms from August to October, with flowers 7 to 12 inches wide that each last a day, and it is the parent of several popular hybrids often called dinner plate size hibiscus.

Two name notes. Some plant databases now file this species as Muenchhusia moscheutos (previously Hibiscus moscheutos), though nurseries still sell it as hibiscus. And Hibiscus grandiflorus is not another name for it: H. grandiflorus, swamp rose mallow, is a separate species.

Midnight Marvel Hibiscus

A bushy hibiscus shrub with deep purple-black lobed leaves and five large scarlet-red blooms grows in a mulched garden bed surrounded by greenery.

The Midnight Marvel hibiscus is a hybrid hardy hibiscus. These hybrids are often the result of breeding several US native species, including H. coccineus, H. laevis and H. moscheutos. ‘Midnight Marvel’ is a mounded plant about 4 feet high and wide, with violet-purple, maple-shaped leaves and 9 to 10 inch carmine-red flowers from midsummer into early fall. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9.

Hibiscus Grandiflorus (Swamp Rose Mallow)

A large hot-pink hibiscus flower with a deep crimson center and pale stamens blooms among green leaves and buds beside a quiet water edge.

This native is a large, shrub-like plant of swamps, ponds and marshes, with some of the largest flowers in the group, up to ten inches wide, in pink or white. It has velvety leaves, is sometimes found in brackish conditions and is hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11.

Hibiscus Mutabilis (Confederate Rose)

The Hibiscus mutabilis Confederate rose (also cotton rose mallow) has a misleading name twice over. It is a hibiscus, not a rose, and although the common name implies connections to the South, it is native to China and Taiwan.

The species name mutabilis refers to the flower color change. The flowers open white, turn light pink, then dark pink as they mature. It is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9, growing about 8 feet tall in the South Carolina Upstate to 15 feet on the coast, and it is an old favorite pass-along plant because it roots so easily from cuttings.

Two large, fully double ruffled pink Confederate rose blooms with round seed pods and maple-like leaves on a garden shrub.

Hibiscus Coccineus (Texas Star Hibiscus)

The Texas Star hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) is also called scarlet rose mallow. Despite the nickname, it is native to marshes and swamps in Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

Its brilliant red flowers are 6 to 8 inches wide, with petals more separated than other hibiscus, which gives the bloom its star shape. The leaves are deeply divided into narrow, toothed, finger-like lobes. It dies back to the ground in winter and resprouts in spring, is hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9, and grows naturally in swamps, marshes and ditches, though it also tolerates the somewhat drier conditions common in a home garden. It can also be used around ponds or streams. Some databases now file it as Muenchhusia coccinea.

A scarlet star-shaped hibiscus bloom with narrow petals and a protruding red stamen rises above finger-like leaves near water, backlit against a dark, shaded garden background.

Hibiscus Sabdariffa (Roselle)

Some hibiscus end up in the kitchen. Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), also called Florida cranberry, red sorrel or Jamaica sorrel, is native to Central and West Africa. The part people eat is the calyx, the fleshy red cup at the base of each flower. The calyces are used for jams, sauces and teas, and their tart taste makes them a good stand-in for cranberries. It is only hardy in zones 9 to 10. More on hibiscus tea and edible hibiscus.

Alyogyne Huegelii (Blue Hibiscus)

Technically, blue hibiscus (Alyogyne huegelii) is not a hibiscus. The Australian National Botanic Gardens says it was formerly known as Hibiscus huegelii and is still found in many retail nurseries under that name. It stays in the same mallow family, which is why the flowers look so familiar.

A single lilac-blue blue hibiscus flower with a yellow center blooms amid deeply lobed green leaves and a fuzzy bud on a sunny shrub.

It grows naturally in sandy to sandy-gravel areas of South Australia and Western Australia, and needs good drainage and some protection from the hardest frosts. Its flowers, lilac with reddish-purple throats and about 7 cm across, last one day each, with violet, blue, rose pink and white forms too.

Pests To Watch Out For On Hibiscus Species and Hybrids

The sap-sucking pests to watch for are scale, mealybugs, spider mites, aphids, whiteflies and thrips, and thrips feed on flower buds and can distort flowers or make buds drop. Scout regularly by flipping leaves, since these pests cluster on leaves and flower buds; if caught early they are easily controlled with insecticidal soaps or horticultural oils. Read labels carefully, and never use malathion on hibiscus. Spray soaps and oils with care, too: Clemson Extension says they can damage plants that are water-stressed, when temperatures are above 90°F or when sprayed in direct sunlight, and advises spraying early in the morning or late in the evening.

Four dinner-plate-sized pale pink hibiscus blooms with deep red centers and green buds grow on a leafy shrub beside a mulched lawn edge.

How To Get Rid Of Aphids on Hibiscus: what aphid damage looks like and how to get rid of them.
How To Treat And Get Rid Of Pink Hibiscus Mealybug: spotting and treating this mealybug on hibiscus and other garden plants.
Learn How To Control Spider Mites On Hibiscus Plants: the damage spider mites cause and how to control an infestation.
How To Control White Flies On Hibiscus Plants: what whiteflies are and how to control them.
What Are Those Black Spots On Hibiscus Leaves and Buds?: the causes of black spots and what to do about them.
What Is A Good Insecticide For Hibiscus Shrubs and Plants?: choosing an insect spray for common hibiscus pests.

Tips On Hibiscus Growing And Care

A potted hibiscus with three ruffled lavender-grey blooms and dark red centers sits beside a metal watering can on a sunlit stone patio.

7 Tips On Choosing The Right Hibiscus Fertilizer: feeding hibiscus for strong growth and big flowers.
7 Reasons For Hibiscus Leaves Turning Yellow: what yellow leaves are telling you.
How To Water Hibiscus Trees: watering on the plant’s schedule, not yours.
How Much Sun Does A Hibiscus Need?: getting the light right.
Hawaiian Hibiscus 60 Years Ago

Hibiscus Grooming

How To Deadhead Hibiscus, But Do They Need It?: whether and how to remove spent blooms.
Pruning Hibiscus: How And When To Prune Hibiscus For Best Growth: timing differs for tropical and hardy types.

Hibiscus Propagation

Three hibiscus varieties sit together in a sunny mulched garden bed: large red perennial blooms, a pink-flowered shrub, and a potted orange tropical plant.

Hibiscus Seeds: How To Grow Hibiscus From Seed: starting hibiscus from seed at home.
How To Propagate Hibiscus From Cuttings: rooting cuttings in water, coco coir or soil.
Propagating Hibiscus: How To Start New Hibiscus Plants: cuttings, air layers and seed.

Hibiscus FAQs

Hibiscus Buds Dropping Off: why buds fall and how to keep them.
Reasons For Hibiscus Not Blooming: why your hibiscus isn’t flowering and how to fix it.
Is Hibiscus Poisonous To Dogs?: what to know if your dog chews a hibiscus. (The ASPCA lists rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus, as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.)
When Do Hibiscus Bloom And How Long Do They Bloom?: bloom seasons and how long the flowers last.

Which hibiscus is growing in your garden: tropical, hardy or one of the look-alikes? Tell us in the comments!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of hibiscus flowers?

The ones gardeners grow most are tropical Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), rose of Sharon (H. syriacus), the native rose mallows such as H. moscheutos and scarlet rose mallow (H. coccineus), Confederate rose (H. mutabilis) and roselle (H. sabdariffa). Swamp rose mallow (H. grandiflorus) and cranberry hibiscus (H. acetosella) belong on the list too. Hybrid hardy hibiscus such as ‘Midnight Marvel’ are often bred from several of these native species.

What is another name for hibiscus?

It depends on the plant. Native hibiscus are also called rosemallows. Chinese hibiscus is the common name for H. rosa-sinensis, whose species name is Latin for “rose of China.” Rose of Sharon is also called althea, Confederate rose is also cotton rose mallow, and roselle is also called Florida cranberry or Jamaica sorrel.

Which types of hibiscus survive winter?

The hardy ones. Rose mallow (H. moscheutos) is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9 and rose of Sharon in zones 5 to 9. Perennial hibiscus usually freezes back to the ground and regrows in spring, while rose of Sharon is a woody shrub that drops its leaves. Chinese hibiscus is frost tender (hardy only in zones 9a to 11b), so bring it indoors when nights fall into the lower 50s °F.

Is rose of Sharon a hibiscus?

Yes. Rose of Sharon is Hibiscus syriacus, a deciduous shrub native to China and Taiwan that grows 8 to 10 feet tall. The name syriacus suggests Syria, but that appears to be false because the plant is native to eastern Asia. It is non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.

Is blue hibiscus a real hibiscus?

No. Blue hibiscus, also called lilac hibiscus, is Alyogyne huegelii. It was formerly named Hibiscus huegelii and is still found in many nurseries under that name. It is in the same mallow family, comes from sandy areas of South Australia and Western Australia, and has lilac flowers about 7 cm across, plus violet, blue, rose pink and white forms.