Should you pull dead flowers off Hibiscus plant?

Photo: Shelly Nold

Q. Is it true that you should not pull dead flowers off Hibiscus plant, or it won’t “re-bloom?”
– Deb Dietrich, Cox’s Creek (Salt River Electric)

A. Hi, Deb: Hibiscus are a large group of plants. Both hardy and tropical species can be part of a Kentucky garden. Hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos,) is an herbaceous perennial that has dinner-plate size blooms; tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis,) has considerably smaller flowers. All are showy plants and prolific bloomers if given full sun, adequate nutrients and moisture. Depending on variety, each individual bloom only lasts for a day or two, but they are never in short supply.

Removing spent blooms will encourage future flowers. If spent blooms remain on the plant, it will use some of its energy for seed production instead of concentrating all of it on bud growth. Deadheading will also give the plant a tidy appearance.