Light

• Rose mallows grow best in full sun or light shade. Flowering is reduced and the plants become leggy and weak if they receive less than four hours of direct sunlight daily. If you must site perennial hibiscus in partial shade, give them morning sun. The early sunshine encourages the flowers to open first thing in the morning.
  
  

Soil

• H. moscheutos is native to marshes and ditches, so the best planting sites mimic that environment. Give the plants rich, slightly acid soil with lots of organic material. They're especially well-suited for growing near ponds and streams, since periodic flooding doesn't harm them at all. Mark their location carefully, as perennial hibiscus are late to break dormancy in the spring.
  
  

Insects and Diseases

• Perennial hibiscus are susceptible to rust and leaf spots but these diseases are rarely a problem. The only insects likely to bother the plants are whiteflies and Japanese beetles. Good plant hygiene, especially keeping the planting bed free of fallen leaves and flowers, helps prevent both disease and insect problems.
  
  

Spring and Summer Care

• Once perennial hibiscus break dormancy in late spring, keep them constantly moist for best flower production and lushest growth. Feed them once in spring, just as they're breaking dormancy, and again after the first flush of flowers. Deadhead to improve the plant's appearance and focus all the plant's energy on flower production. Since hibiscus flowers last only one day, they aren't suitable as cut flowers. If division is desired, do so early in spring for best results.
  
  

Winter Care

• Once the plant tops have been blackened by frost, cut back all stems to ground level and clean debris away from the planting bed to discourage overwintering insects. The stems become quite woody, so you may need a pair of loppers to cut them. Give first-year plants a winter mulch of straw or loose leaves but no other winter protection is necessary. Rose mallows are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture Zones 4 through 9 or 10, although hardiness depends on the cultivar, so read plant tags carefully.