Do I cut back my Hardy Hibiscus in the fall?

I just got some Hardy Hibiscus plants, and I'm trying to decide where I want to plant them in my yard. The deciding factor is: will I need to cut them back in the fall, or do the leaves just fall off and leave the branches behind like trees?



If I do need to cut them back, how far down do I trim?



Can I grow more from cuttings?



Any other tips? (I live in south NJ if that helps) I'm a pretty good gardener, I've just never had these before.
Do I cut back my Hardy Hibiscus in the fall?
Most likely what you are referring to is know as Rose Mallow, a relative of Rose Of Sharon. The plant is a wetland native from the Gulf of Mexico up into southern Canada. I suspect you purchased some hybrid specialty colors that recently have been developed and marketed quite successfully since the wildflower is pretty much only pink or white. These hybrids are supposed to be protected by law from propogation but the laws are meant to prevent someone like me as a greenhouse business owner from infringing on rights and blah blah blah, like the music business junk of recent years, only with plants. Desired propogation methods are from seed, however it is possible to do cuttings but that is best left to experts with specialty environments and chemicals and all that.



Pruning is best done very late in the fall, after the plant goes completely dormant. What I do in my landscape is I prune mine back to about knee height right before the first snow, mulch it and leave it until spring thaw. I do this for everything so I can easily see it in the spring and remember where it is, of course I'm not a home owner I take care of an acre of this stuff and I need the visual to remember. Then at springtime I go back and before the ground thaws completely and growth begins, I prune it down to about three inches from the ground. Growth comes late these plants and it starts at the crown of the plant, so remove any mulch when you start to see green and danger of a hard frost is over.
Reply:my parents had these in pennsylvania. every few years my dad would cut them down to ground level because they grew so big. they always came back stronger than ever and always bloomed. so cut them back if you feel they are getting out of control. i have them in tx where i grow them as trees. they leaves fall off in winter months, but come back in very early spring. dont know about cuttings, but i was given mine by someone who just dug up some sucker shoots from around the plants. they where thin as a pencil and about 12 inches tall. in one year, they where 4 feet and full of blossoms. they are also known as rose of sharon.
Reply:You can't as far as I know make cuttings of the plant.The leaves will fall off on their own.You cut back the plant in the spring(the dead part that is.It will come back up from the bottom with new sprouts.Always mulch it good in the fall.Leave enough of the dead plant so you will remember where it's planted.Use Miracle Grow in the spring until the flowers appear.When they seed save some.
Reply:When you cut them is a matter of preference. I used to do mine in the fall, but I heard spring was better. Tried both and no difference. I use a bow saw and cut about 2" from the ground.



Yes. Cuttings root very easily. I have given away at least 30