Growing guide · Perennials

Hibiscus 'Lilac Crush'

How to grow Hardy Hibiscus 'Summerific® Lilac Crush'.

Plate-size flowers. Last one up in spring.

Light
Full sun
Water
High
Zones
4–9
Size
5–5.5 ft tall, 4–4.5 ft wide
Spacing
4 ft apart.
Pets
Not on the ASPCA pet-safe list; keep it out of reach
Hardy hibiscus with large rosy-lilac flowers with a dark crimson center over deep green leaves

Light

Full sun. Fewer flowers and weaker stems in shade.

Water

Likes steady moisture and handles wet soil. Water deeply in dry spells; wilting is its way of asking.

Planting and soil

Plant in spring or early summer in rich soil, crown level with the surface.

Feeding

Compost or a balanced slow-release feed in late spring when shoots appear.

Pruning

Cut the dead stems to 4–6 in. in late fall or early spring. Each flower lasts a day; no deadheading needed.

Through the year

Shoots emerge late May. Buds by July. Flowers July to September. Dies back with frost.

If something's off

Japanese beetles and hibiscus sawfly larvae chew the leaves; hand-pick or hose them off. Don't assume it died over winter until June.

Plays well with

Plant it with friends.

Switch Grass 'Heavy Metal'
Panicum virgatumSwitch Grass 'Heavy Metal' from $60.99
Bee Balm 'Jacob Cline'
Monarda didymaBee Balm 'Jacob Cline' from $30.99

Why we stock it: Tropical-looking flowers on a plant that's hardy to zone 4.

About 25 native butterfly and moth species use Hibiscus as a host (Narango et al. 2020).

That's everything we know about growing it. Thanks for reading.

Know someone with the right spot? Send them this.

Kits with Hardy Hibiscus 'Summerific® Lilac Crush'.

All plant kits →
The Sunday Tip · every Sunday

One good plant idea,
every Sunday.

What to plant this week in your zone, every Sunday. New ways to plant and odd tricks that actually work.