How To Prune Hibiscus: 10 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow
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This article was co-authored by Jovace Nelson and by wikiHow staff writer, Amy Bobinger, BA. Jovace Nelson is a Landscaping Expert and the CEO of Vacetime, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Vacetime, launched in 2018, is an agricultural building management service. Jovace and his team specialize in creating custom landscaping makeover services for both residential and commercial properties, living walls, and environmental education. Jovace studied Business and Management at Penn State University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 934,553 times.
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 talked to landscaping expert Jovace Nelson and plant specialist Tyler Radford to learn 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?
Landscaping expert Jovace Nelson recommends removing any dead, damaged, or diseased branches from the hibiscus right away, trimming back crossing branches improve airflow and reduce pests, and pinching or snipping just above a leaf node (where a leaf joins the stem) to encourage branching and more blooms.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:How to Prune a Hibiscus
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1 Decide 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.[1] - 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.
Meet the wikiHow Experts
Jovace Nelson is a landscaping expert who specializes in custom landscaping makeovers. He is also the CEO of Philadelphia-based VaceTime, an agricultural building management service.
Tyler Radford is a plant specialist at Hollie’s Farm & Garden, a full-service landscape nursery in Tampa, Florida. He specializes in gardening, planting, mulching, and potting.
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2 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.[2] - This guideline doesn’t apply if you’re pinching back new growth on a young plant.
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3 Follow 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.
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4 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.[3]
- 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.
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5 Continue 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. 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. - “Trim back crossing branches to open the center of the plant,” says Nelson. “This improves airflow and reduces pests.”[4]
- 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.
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6 Fertilize 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: - 13-2-13
- 17-7-10
- 6-4-6
- 6-0-4
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7 Propagate 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 Radford. “Then put that directly into soil.”[5] - “Most hibiscus start pretty easily,” adds Radford. “Some, like the mallow types, will root even without rooting powder.”[6]
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When to Prune Hibiscus
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1 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.[7] - 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:
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2 Prune tropical hibiscus in spring and hardy hibiscus in winter. According to Nelson, “Tropical hibiscus are best pruned in early spring, just before new growth starts. You can also lightly prune throughout the growing season to shape it.”[8] - “Hardy hibiscus should be cut back in late winter or very early spring since they die back to the ground each year,” Nelson adds.[9]
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Pruning Techniques for Hibiscus
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1 Pinch pruning: Encourage bushier young plants “Pinch or snip just above a leaf node (where a leaf joins the stem) to encourage branching and more blooms,” says Nelson.[10] 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.[11] - When to use this technique: This technique is best to encourage a bushier appearance on young hibiscus plants.
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2 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.
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3 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.[12] - 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.
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4 Corrective pruning: “Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased branches right away,” says Nelson.[13] 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 as needed 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.
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5 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.[14] - “Wait until late winter or very early spring, then cut all the stems back to 4–6 in (10–15 cm) above the ground,” Nelson advises. “The hibiscus will regrow from the roots.”[15]
- After a hard prune, the hibiscus may not bloom again until the following year.
- When to use this technique: “Cutting a hibiscus all the way back can be done for rejuvenation and shaping,” says Nelson.[16]
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6 Standard 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.
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Why should you prune hibiscus?
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Pruning hibiscus can encourage more blooms. Hibiscus plants grow with terminal flowers; which means that each flower grows at the end of a branch. Pruning a healthy hibiscus bush will encourage the plant to grow more branches, thus producing more flowers.[17] - You can also prune a damaged or dying tree to prevent future decay and to promote new, healthy growth.
Expert Q&A
Search Add New Question- Question When can I prune my hibiscus?
Andrew Carberry, MPH Food Systems and Gardening Expert 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.
Andrew Carberry, MPH Food Systems and Gardening Expert Expert Answer The best time to prune hibiscus is just before the weather warms in the spring. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 27 Helpful 185 - Question Is a hibiscus a perennial?
Andrew Carberry, MPH Food Systems and Gardening Expert 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.
Andrew Carberry, MPH Food Systems and Gardening Expert Expert Answer Yes, hibiscus is a perennial plant. Pruning it each year will encourage a full shape and lots of flowers. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 16 Helpful 123 - Question My 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 Answer Too much water will turn them yellow. Not enough water will turn them brown. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 37 Helpful 259
Video
Read Video TranscriptTips
- 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 Helpful 122 Not Helpful 43
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References
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Jovace Nelson. Landscaping Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ Tyler Radford. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview
- ↑ Tyler Radford. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/lawn_garden/ornamentals/trees_shrubs/growing-the-tropical-hibiscus-in-louisiana
- ↑ Jovace Nelson. Landscaping Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ Jovace Nelson. Landscaping Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ Jovace Nelson. Landscaping Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/general-pruning-techniques
- ↑ https://plantura.garden/uk/trees-shrubs/hibiscus/pruning-hibiscus
- ↑ Jovace Nelson. Landscaping Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/pruning-hibiscus/9428102
- ↑ Jovace Nelson. Landscaping Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ Jovace Nelson. Landscaping Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/houseplants/hibiscus
About This Article
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?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
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Corinne Larimore
May 18, 2016
"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
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.Corinne Larimore
May 18, 2016
"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."..." moreBecky Gumbert
Sep 26, 2017
"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."..." moreDon Alexander
Oct 19, 2016
"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."..." moreKaren Batton
Oct 3, 2016
"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!"..." moreNadine B.
Nov 20, 2017
"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 Share yours! More success stories Hide success storiesQuizzes & Games
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