How to Remove Seeds From a Hardy Hibiscus Flower
Contents
Gathering hardy hibiscus seeds is easy, but the timing matters because these plants tend to drop their seeds when ripe.
Several plants go by the common name "hardy hibiscus," including the mallow rose (Hibiscus moscheutos), which grows best in USDA zones 5a to 9b, and the confederate rose (Hibiscus mutabilis) that grows as a perennial in zones 7a to 9b.
Although the process of gathering the seeds is simple, it is only the first step toward growing a hardy hibiscus from seed at home—you must also pretreat them, sow them under the right conditions and provide the right care to successfully propagate these showy flowering perennials.
When to Gather Hardy Hibiscus Seeds
Timing matters when it comes to gathering hardy hibiscus seeds, because there is only a brief window to gather the seeds before the plant drops them. The flowers of most hardy hibiscus species bloom from midsummer into autumn, then the pollinated flowers develop into segmented, oval-shaped seed pods that start out green and ripen to brown.
Gather hardy hibiscus seeds in mid- to late autumn after the seed pods turn brown and start to split open. The segmented pods tend to drop their seed when fully ripe, so it is important to watch them closely and gather them before they drop their seed onto the ground.
Tip
Harvest seed only from fully ripened seed capsules.
How to Gather Hardy Hibiscus Seeds
The easiest way to gather hardy hibiscus seeds is to place a nylon mesh bag over the seed pods before they are fully ripe and secure the bag around the stem with a twist tie. When the seed pods ripen and split open, the seeds will fall into the bottom of the bag rather than onto the ground. The seeds can then be sown or stored under cool, dry conditions until a later date.
Another way of gathering hardy hibiscus seeds is to gather the seed pods before they fully ripen:
- Gather up the pods when they are brown and dry on the outside but not yet split open.
- Snip off the stem below the seed head using pruning shears and place the seed heads on a shallow tray in an airy location for a few days until they dry out.
- Break open the pods to extract the small dark brown seeds. Throw away any seeds with signs of damage.
How to Grow Hardy Hibiscus From Seed
Hardy hibiscus seeds should be started in spring six to 12 weeks before the last frost. The seeds have a hard coat on the outside, so it is a good idea to soak them overnight in very warm water to soften the seed coat and help them sprout.
- Fill peat pots with moist potting soil. Poke a hole in the center of the soil that is 1/2-inch deep and drop the seed inside. Cover it.
- Set the peat pots in a very bright location where temperatures stay between 70 and 75°F. Optionally, use a propagation mat to warm the pots.
- Keep the soil moist but not too damp. Water only when the soil feels nearly dry on the surface.
- Watch for the first hardy hibiscus seedlings in two to three weeks. Depending on where the peat pots are located, you may need a grow light to ensure optimal light while the seedlings grow.
Grow hardy hibiscus seedlings in their starter pots for four to five weeks and then transplant them into larger nursery pots filled with moist soil.
Once your seedlings are ready to transplant into the garden, treat them like any other hardy hibiscus.
Tip
Pinch back the tips of the seedlings when they reach 6 to 8 inches in height, which will help encourage more branching and better flower production.
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References
Tips
- Because hardy hibiscus seeds are pollinated from unknown sources, the color of the resulting flowers may not match those of the parent plant.
Writer Bio
Sasha Degnan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Anthropology. Her written work has appeared in both online and print publications. She is a certified Master Gardener and dedicated plant enthusiast with decades of experience growing and propagating native and exotic plant varieties.
