I'm growing Red sheild for the 1st time this year.Its about 10 ft tall right now.I was told by my trader it would bloom about Nov for me& the picture she included shows pink flowers red centers.I also grow a roselle.same leaves,but are held different and it is setting buds now& will bloom in october.I useually top it at 2 ft and keep topped till july so it grows more like a round shrub.I didn't this year and have plans with bread ties on my belt loop to secure to fence.its starting to grow "wavey".when topping it it does seem to have alot more branches and a fuller plant. I grow castor beans.My reds i traded for didn't sprout,but was told they are the only short ones.I grew my greens this year,but have some pink veined& some carmine that have purpleish leaves and the stalk is deep purple.I'm in zone 8b TX and mine actually return& so do the seeds that fall off that I miss.I had a 21 ft plant last yr. grew in old compost pile that I moved and the bed was actually raised.The trunk was 9 in diameter& when I chopped it down.....it grew back to about 4 ft before frost got it.I couldn't even reach the seeds,but the seed was big like a red runner bean.

Per Home Guides.... Non-toxic Hibiscus Most hibiscus plants, such as the Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), which thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, or the rose mallow (Hibiscus lasiocarpos), growing in USDA zones 5 through 9, are safe for canine consumption. In fact, hibiscus flowers are used in the making of many herbal teas sold in the U.S., according to WebMD. You aren't likely to make tea for your pup, but there's no need to worry if you see him tasting the sweet blooms or other parts of a safe variety of hibiscus. Toxic Variety While most hibiscus pose no threat to canines, a couple do. The ASPCA lists one main hibiscus variety in its database of varieties toxic to dogs. The rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), also called the rose of China, grows in USDA zones 5 through 8. It blooms all summer and into fall, traditionally with pink blooms or blooms that are pink with red centers. Modern cultivars create other bloom colors including blue, white and red. As a deciduous shrub, it loses its leaves for the winter and grows new ones -- which might look tasty to your dog -- in the spring. It can grow up to 12 feet tall, but it creates blooms and leaves all along the branches, meaning there will be plenty at your pooch's eye level to tempt him.

For your hardy hibiscus, if it is dwarf bright solid red, it is probably Hib moscheutos Luna Red. These are tough plants, and worthwhile to try to overwinter, they will be a nicer bush the following year. I have many H. moscheutos, dwarf and full size, and have managed to overwinter in 5a, 5b, and friends in Zone 4. I hope the following info helps if you want to try to overwinter it. First: these plants regrow from the roots next year. Don't worry about keeping the current year's branches protected. However, I do not cut down the branches as these plants take a long time to sprout in the spring, and leaving the branches from last year will remind you where the plant is located. Secondly, this autumn, start to cover the root area/base of plant with whatever you have handy: extra dirt, compost, mulch, etc....to cover from the base of the plant out to the drip line and pile it one foot high ( do not worry about the branches, they die off). If you can manage more than a foot high, by all means go ahead.Ideally to cover before the frost starts coming. This huge mounding of dirt, etc.. provides a cover for the roots to give it the best chance to grow again next year. Next year, slowly start to remove the extra dirt, etc... as the flowrbeds are thawing. These plants stay dormant quite a long time compared to other plants, so don't give up hope! In my zone they start sprouting thru the dirt in June, but were in full roar bloom in August. ONce they are sprouting, you can either leave the remaining dirt in place or remove it gradually; at the same time you can start to cut the previous year's dead branches once you can see where the plant is sprouting. I'm sorry for the long post but these are lovely plants and not at all difficult to overwinter. Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions. Good luck!

yes they are beautiful =) also edible flowers, entire plant edible, all members of the hibiscus family and of the extended family of mallows are entirely edible. easy care- they grow abundantly once established. you dont have to fuss over them much, just give them water every so often and they grow very big =) rose of sharon, Hibiscus syriacus, is one kind of hardy hibiscus, the other main one being hibiscus moscheutos. to sow your seeds, plant them in winter outside, either directly in the ground or in pots. let the winter cold stratify them for you, or alternatively you can look into the cold stratification methods using the fridge.