Tropical Hibiscus, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Tropical hibiscus is the classic Southwest Florida flowering shrub, blooming most of the year in full sun with big, short-lived flowers in nearly every color. It grows fast, works as a hedge or a bed shrub, and only suffers in hard freezes and direct salt spray. We stock a wide range of colors in 3, 7 and 15 gallon sizes, then deliver and plant them.
- Light:
- Full sun for the most flowers; tolerates light afternoon shade
- Water:
- Regular; wilts and drops buds if it dries out
- Salt:
- Moderate; leaf burn in direct salt spray
Hibiscus sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Variety or form | Sizes | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Hibiscus | 3 Gallon | The standard tropical hibiscus in a 3 gallon pot, an easy choice for filling a hedge row or mixed bed. |
| Hibiscus Snow Queen | 3 Gallon | A named cultivar in 3 gallon; ask us about its current leaf and bloom color before you plan around it. |
| Fiji Hibiscus | 7 Gallon, 15 Gallon | Offered in larger 7 and 15 gallon sizes, so it arrives as a taller plant for screening or a focal spot. |
| Hibiscus Tequila | 3 Gallon | A named cultivar in 3 gallon with its own bloom pattern, so check what is flowering before you match it to a color scheme. |
| Hibiscus White | 3 Gallon | A white-flowered selection in 3 gallon that stands out against dark green foliage and suits cooler, cleaner color schemes. |
| Hibiscus Double Peach | 3 Gallon | A peach-toned selection with double, many-petaled flowers, sold in 3 gallon. |
| Hibiscus Double Red | 3 Gallon | A red selection with full double flowers, sold in 3 gallon. |
| Hibiscus Fiesta | 3 Gallon | A named cultivar in 3 gallon; bloom color and form follow the cultivar, so ask what we have flowering. |
| Hibiscus Fire and Ice | 3 Gallon | A named cultivar in 3 gallon that is best chosen by seeing the flower, so ask us for its current color. |
| Hibiscus Painted Lady | 3 Gallon | A named cultivar in 3 gallon; ask about its current bloom color and pattern before you pick a spot for it. |
| Hibiscus Pink Lady | 3 Gallon | A pink-toned selection in 3 gallon for soft color in a bed or hedge. |
| Hibiscus Red President | 3 Gallon | A red-flowered President type in 3 gallon, a bold red for hedges and bed anchors. |
| Hibiscus Seminole Pink | 3 Gallon, 15 Gallon | A pink selection offered in both 3 and 15 gallon, so you can start small or plant a large specimen. |
| Hibiscus Yellow | 3 Gallon | A yellow-flowered selection in 3 gallon that brightens a sunny bed and pairs well with purple plumbago. |
| Hibiscus Peach | 7 Gallon | A peach-toned selection in the 7 gallon size, a bigger plant for faster impact. |
| Hibiscus Presidente | 7 Gallon | A President-type hibiscus sold as a 7 gallon plant for faster height and screening. |
| Hibiscus Rico Suave | 3 Gallon | A named cultivar in 3 gallon with its own look, so ask us what is blooming before you commit to a color. |
| Hibiscus Exotic Red | 7 Gallon | A red-flowered selection in the 7 gallon size. |
| Hibiscus President Red | 7 Gallon | Another red President-type selection, sold in 7 gallon. |
Hibiscus in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 4 to 10 ft tall and 3 to 6 ft wide, depending on cultivar and pruning
- Light
- Full sun for the most flowers; tolerates light afternoon shade
- Water
- Regular; wilts and drops buds if it dries out
- Salt tolerance
- Moderate; leaf burn in direct salt spray
- Cold tolerance
- Leaves and buds burn near 32°F and a hard freeze can cut it back; coastal Lee is usually fine, cover plants inland on frost nights
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast
- Spacing
- 3 to 5 ft apart for a hedge, 5 to 6 ft for single shrubs
- Florida native
- No, native to Asia
- Botanical name
- Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Where Hibiscus works in a SW Florida yard
Hibiscus does best in open sun along a south or west fence, as a loose flowering hedge, or in a foundation bed where its shiny leaves and big blooms carry color through the year. Mix several colors in a row for a cottage look, or repeat one color for a cleaner line.
The 7 and 15 gallon plants give you height on day one for screening a pool equipment pad or a side yard. Ixora, croton and ti plant make good companions because they like the same sun and warmth, with plumbago in front.
- Flowering hedge or screen
- Foundation bed shrub
- Pool and patio color
- Large container plantings
How our crew plants it
Plant hibiscus at the depth it grew in the pot, in a hole twice as wide as the root ball, with the top of the root ball level with or slightly above the soil. Our crew backfills with native sand, soaks it in and leaves the bed clean.
Space hedge plants 3 to 5 ft apart and single shrubs 5 to 6 ft. Mulch 2 to 3 inches deep, off the stems. New hibiscus need regular water, and the extra watering Lee and Collier allow for new plantings is worth using.
Care after planting
- Water deeply and regularly, because hibiscus wilts fast in sandy soil and drops buds when it dries out; use the extra watering allowed for new plantings in Lee and Collier, then your assigned days.
- A slow-release, low-phosphorus fertilizer with micronutrients suits hibiscus; apply it in spring and early fall, since nitrogen and phosphorus are off limits June 1 to September 30 in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island.
- Trim lightly through the growing season to keep it full, and save hard pruning for early spring once the cold danger has passed.
- Cover plants on frost nights if you are inland, and wait for new growth before cutting off cold-damaged tips.
What to watch for
- Aphids, whiteflies, scale and mealybugs cause curled leaves, sticky honeydew and black sooty mold, so check new growth often.
- Buds that yellow and drop before opening usually point to thrips, dry spells, cold nights or uneven watering rather than a disease.
Hibiscus questions we hear
Does hibiscus grow well in Southwest Florida?+
Yes. It thrives in our heat, humidity and full sun and blooms most of the year, with each flower lasting about a day and new buds opening constantly. Cold snaps, salt spray and dry spells are what set it back, so water well and cover it on frost nights inland.
How cold can hibiscus take in Florida?+
Leaves and buds burn near 32°F, and a hard freeze can kill the top growth. Coastal Lee and Collier rarely see that, and plants usually regrow from lower wood in spring. Inland, cover plants on frost nights, and wait for new growth before pruning off the damage.
How far apart should I plant hibiscus for a hedge?+
Plant 3 to 5 ft apart. Closer spacing makes a solid screen faster with 3 gallon plants, while 7 and 15 gallon plants can go farther apart because they are already bigger. Leave room behind the row so you can trim both sides.
Which hibiscus colors can I get?+
We stock more than a dozen named hibiscus, including white, yellow, peach, pink, red and multicolor selections in single and double forms, in 3, 7 and 15 gallon. Text us the colors you like and the spot, and we will tell you what is available.
Why are my hibiscus buds dropping before they open?+
Usually thrips, dry spells, cold nights or uneven watering. Check the buds for tiny insects, keep the soil evenly moist, and go easy on nitrogen, which pushes leaves over flowers. Plants in too much shade also bloom less.
How much does it cost to have hibiscus planted?+
Hibiscus is priced by cultivar, pot size and count, and we send the planted price by text. Tell us the hedge length or bed size and you will usually have it inside an hour during the day.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Hibiscus
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
Also worth a look
More like this
All hedges & shrubs
The service
Hedge and privacy screen installation
Planning a whole yard
See it in 3D first
We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.