HIBISCUS PROBLEM...

Hello all,

We have a pink flowering hibiscus (still quite small, at around 1.5 - 2 feet tall max), which was planted outside almost a year ago - Hibiscus syriacus 'Pink Chiffon'.  It didn't do well at all this year, only flowered a little - budded mostly, but looked a bit sickly, with some yellowing leaves.  

It is planted next to a flourishing Choisya, which I had to cut back to allow the sunlight more access, which seemed to help, but only a little.  There is also a lot of Ivy around the ground and climbing up the wall in that area - could this be a big part of the problem too??

Also, I have checked the plant's tag and it doesn't seem to say whether or not it is hardy...  Should we be fleecing it up for winter?

Many thanks in advance for any help.......!

Mrs C Stanley

Firstly-completely hardy in the UK-no worries there

Hibiscus do take a while to settle down-but yours seems to be completing with other plants in the area-that could explain the symptoms-but I have one next to a  weigela-and it is ok

Two choices -leave it where it is and see what happens -or move to another spot?

Dear sotongeoff,

Thanks for the response.  I'm glad it's hardy, that's great to know...

Also glad that it doesn't sound like it's got a major problem   

I think what we'll do in this case then, is leave it be, but keep the Choisya well pruned that side and I may clear up some of the Ivy, as it's taking over a little there anyway!

Thanks again,

Mrs S.

I'm wondering if it's a bit too shady for it where it is - the fact that ivy is flourishing would indicate that perhaps it's not the sunniest spot - hibiscus do best in a sunny situation and with the low light levels we've had this summer it may not have had enough sunshine.  

As hibiscus flower on new wood, you can prune it in the spring (much as you would prune a  rose) then it will throw out new side shoots which will produce the flowers.

Thanks 'Dovefromabove'  

I will keep an eye on that then...  I also wondered this myself.  However, it's West facing, so gets all the strong afternoon and especially late sunshine (although, as you rightly point out, we haven't had an awful lot of sunshine this year again!)

I think that may well be a bit of a problem, but I'm hoping that by keeping the Choisya pruned back, it will be alright...  We have very small gardens at the moment, front and back    - so we're very limited as to where we could move it if we do need to!!!

Am hoping it won't come to that, but we shall see...  

Thanks!

Mrs S