Hibiscus
Seed # 200
Basic Information
- Seed Number
- 200
- Seed Name
- Hibiscus
- Variety
- Red Dinner Plate
- Category
- Flower
- Plant Family
- Malvaceae
- Plant Type
- Hardy perennial hibiscus / rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos-type hybrid)
- Planting Method
- Start Indoors
- Seed Status
- In Seed Bank
- Created
- 2026-08-14 00:50:34
- Updated
- 2026-08-19 15:35:29
Planting Information
- Start Planting Date
- Feb 10
- Last Recommended Planting Date
- Jun 1
- Plantable Months
- February, March, April, May, June
- Indoor Start
- Feb 10 – Feb 24
- Direct Sow
- Not recorded
- Transplant
- May 12 – Jun 1
- Indoor Start Weeks Before Frost
- 12 weeks
- Transplant Weeks After Frost
- 1 weeks
- Germination Days
- 7–21 days
- Harvest/Maturity
- Not recorded
- Succession Planting
- Not recorded
Growing Conditions
- Ideal Soil Temperature
- Not recorded
- Planting Depth
- Cover seed lightly
- Plant Spacing
- 24-36 in
- Row Spacing
- 24-36 in
- Thin-To Spacing
- Not recorded
- Sun Requirements
- Full sun
- Water Needs
- Consistent moisture; hardy hibiscus performs especially well in moist soil
- Soil Preference
- Rich, moist, well-drained soil
- Minimum Container Size
- in a large 10+ gal container with consistent moisture
- Plant Height
- Not recorded
- Perennial/Biennial Status
- Perennial
- Container Friendly
- Yes
- Trellis/Support Needed
- No
- Frost Tolerant
- Yes
- Heat Tolerant
- Yes
- Drought Tolerant
- No
- Pollinator Friendly
- Yes
- Medicinal
- No
Garden Uses
Container Pollinator Seed SavingCompanion Planting
| Plant | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bee Balm | Good Companion | Not recorded |
Storage
- Seed Source/Brand
- Proven Winners; Organic India Seeds; Gardenia
- Packet Year
- Not recorded
- Quantity Notes
- Not recorded
- Purchase Date
- Not recorded
- Expiration Year
- Not recorded
- Storage Box
- Not recorded
- Container
- Not recorded
- Envelope
- Not recorded
- Row
- Not recorded
- Slot
- Not recorded
- Storage Notes
- Not recorded
Notes
Original Planting Method: Start indoors from seed well before last frost; transplant after frost
Outdoor / Direct Sow / Transplant Window: Transplant about May 10 – Jun 15
Germination Time: About 7–21 days in warm conditions
Days to Harvest / Bloom: Usually blooms midsummer into fall; seed-grown plants may bloom the first year if started early, otherwise the following season
Container Friendly: Yes, in a large 10+ gal container with consistent moisture
Pollinator Friendly: Yes; attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds
Medicinal / Herbal Use: Primarily ornamental; no medicinal use listed here
Perennial?: Yes; hardy perennial
Succession / Reusable Notes: Cut old stems back after dormancy; established crowns return yearly and can be divided as they enlarge.
Zone 6B Notes: Hardy dinner-plate hibiscus is suitable for Zone 6B. Mulch the first winter and expect late spring emergence.
Companion Plants: Bee balm, coneflower, Joe-Pye weed, ornamental grasses and other moisture-loving perennials
Avoid Planting Near / Watch Outs: Prefers consistent moisture. Hardy hibiscus emerges very late in spring, so do not assume the crown is dead. Watch Japanese beetles and aphids.
Sources: Proven Winners: https://www.provenwinners.com/learn/landscaping/how-grow-dinner-plate-hibiscus | Organic India Seeds: https://www.organicindiaseeds.com/products/red-dinner-plate-hibiscus-flower-seeds-huge-10-12-inch-blooms-perennial-15-seeds | Gardenia: https://www.gardenia.net/guide/dinner-plate-hibiscus-the-perfect-showstopper-for-your-garden
[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT START]]
Zone 6B: Dinner-plate hardy hibiscus is well suited to Zone 6B and normally dies back to the ground in winter before emerging late the following spring.
Germination: Hardy hibiscus seed can be started about 12 weeks before the final frost. Keep the medium consistently moist.
Harvest: Dinner-plate hibiscus is grown primarily for very large midsummer-to-fall flowers rather than harvest.
Seed Saving: Hardy hibiscus hybrids may cross with other compatible hibiscus and seedlings may not reproduce the exact parent flower color or form.
Special Care: The name 'Red Dinner Plate' appears to describe a red-flowered hardy dinner-plate hibiscus rather than a standardized cultivar name. Exact mature height and germination duration are therefore left null.
Research Source: Proven Winners — https://www.provenwinners.com/learn/landscaping/how-grow-dinner-plate-hibiscus — hardy dinner-plate hibiscus as perennial rose mallow, Zones 4-9, 7-9 inch flowers and moisture/sun requirements
Research Source: American Meadows — https://www.americanmeadows.com/collections/hardy-hibiscus-perennial-plants — hardy hibiscus cold tolerance to Zone 4, full-sun culture and dinner-plate-sized flowers
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