How to care for chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis · tropical hibiscus, China rose, Hawaiian hibiscus

Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) — tropical evergreen shrub with glossy leaves and funnel-shaped flowers up to 15 cm across with a long central column, in red, pink, orange or yellow from May to October. Each flower lasts only a day or two; indoors the plant may reach 2 m. Chinese Hibiscus needs partial shade. Water it about every 4 days while it grows and about every 10 days in the winter rest.

Updated: November 2, 2026

Watering and repotting chinese hibiscus through the year

It lives indoors all year, so it has no sowing or planting dates: it grows from March to September and rests from October to February (the other way round in the southern hemisphere).

Repot it about every 12 months.

When to plant chinese hibiscus?

Plant or repot chinese hibiscus in spring, as it starts into growth; early to midsummer also works. It is a houseplant, so it has no outdoor planting date and no frost decides it: just avoid autumn and winter, when growth slows and fresh compost stays wet too long. After that, move it to a slightly larger pot about every year, or sooner once roots circle the pot or grow through the drainage holes.

Watering in the growing and resting halves of the year: Watering and repotting chinese hibiscus through the year.

Sources: RHS: How to repot a plant · Penn State Extension: Repotting houseplants

Quick facts

Type	Houseplant
Latin name	Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Family	Malvaceae
Also called	tropical hibiscus, China rose, Hawaiian hibiscus
Light	Partial shade
Frost	does not tolerate frost
Repotting	every 12 months
Grown in	At home

Where does chinese hibiscus grow?

10,240 records of the plant in gardens, fields and the wild worldwide; most photos come from United States, India, Mexico, Brazil, and Portugal.

World map: where chinese hibiscus has been recorded — Darker green means more records. Photos are real observations from those countries — tap one to see it. Map and records: GBIF.org (2026-10-28), © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap. Photo: prince plants, anuradha.venkatesh, Nelly Rodríguez, ZOSMO SIMIAO, afuejo, Heike Kratzert, Peillon Marc, Mora Rocío (CC BY / CC0).

Chinese Hibiscus, United States — Darker green means more records. Photos are real observations from those countries — tap one to see it. Map and records: GBIF.org (2026-10-28), © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap. Photo: prince plants, anuradha.venkatesh, Nelly Rodríguez, ZOSMO SIMIAO, afuejo, Heike Kratzert, Peillon Marc, Mora Rocío (CC BY / CC0).

Chinese Hibiscus care by growth stage

At home

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 4 days	—	balanced (NPK), 44 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 51 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 58 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 65 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 72 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 79 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 86 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 93 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 100 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 107 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 114 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 121 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 128 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 135 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 142 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 149 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 156 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 163 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 170 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 177 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 184 days into the stage
Winter rest	every 10 days	—	—

Growing notes

Light

Bright, filtered light, shaded from strong direct sun under glass; in winter a south-facing windowsill or warm conservatory suits it. Outdoors in summer it takes full sun or light afternoon shade if moved out gradually. In low winter light buds and leaves turn yellow and drop.

Soil

Peat-free houseplant compost or a loam-based potting compost, rich and moist but well drained. Repot in February or early March into a large enough container.

Care

Water more in spring as light and warmth increase and keep the roots moist; six to eight weeks after repotting start a weekly balanced liquid houseplant feed. In autumn and winter water only when the top of the compost is dry and stop feeding; in cool rooms with nights of at least 7–10 °C it rests half-dormant, and yellowing, falling buds and leaves in winter are normal then. It needs humid air with good ventilation, so stand it on a tray of damp gravel or clay pellets, group it with other plants and keep it away from radiators, fires and draughts. Moving the plant can also make it drop leaves and buds. It can spend summer outdoors but must come in before temperatures fall below 12 °C. In February or early March shorten last year's growth to a framework, since flowers form on new shoots, remove thin shoots and pinch young plants to make them bushy. Cuttings taken in late spring or early summer root in about two weeks with bottom heat of 24–27 °C. Watch for aphids, red spider mites, glasshouse whitefly and scale insects. Well kept, a plant can live up to 20 years.

Pests and diseases of Chinese Hibiscus

3 problems are recorded for chinese hibiscus; each has a page with symptoms, treatment and prevention.

Pests

Other plants of the Malvaceae family

Chinese Hibiscus belongs to Malvaceae; 3 other plants of this family have a guide here.

Plant lists it is in

Part of: Houseplants · Thirsty houseplants · Houseplants to repot every year

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.