HibisQs Petit Orange Hibiscus

HibisQs Petit Orange Hibiscus (Hibiscus 'HibisQs Petit Orange') is a dwarf hibiscus that tops out at about 1m tall and 70cm wide. Instead of a few huge blooms it carries many smaller single orange flowers, each with a deep red centre, right through the warmer months. It is the hibiscus for pots, balconies and small gardens.

Why you'll love it

• Compact by design. The Petit range was bred to stay small, so a mature plant reaches around 1m by 70cm instead of the 2m or more of traditional hibiscus.
• Smaller flowers, more of them. Single orange blooms with a deep red centre open in succession through the warm months, so the shrub is seldom without colour.
• Happy in a pot. The size suits a container on a balcony, patio or entry, outdoors or in a bright spot indoors.
• Low hedge material. Planted in a row, the shrubs knit together into a neat flowering hedge about 1m high.
• A recognised range. The Petit series took an Innovation award at the international IPM trade show in 2017.

Where it works best

Dwarf hedging. Plant 60cm apart in a single row. At 50 to 70cm wide the plants meet within a season or two and form a flowering hedge about 1m high.

Mass planting. Set plants 60cm apart in staggered rows in a sunny, sheltered bed for a drift of orange that stays low enough to see over.

Pots and small gardens. Use one plant to a large pot and keep it out of strong wind. One or two plants will anchor a small courtyard bed.

Growing HibisQs Petit Orange Hibiscus in Australia

Position and climate. A sunny, sheltered position is ideal, and this is a plant for the warmer parts of Australia: tropical, subtropical and frost free warm temperate gardens. Shelter it from strong wind and exposed sites. It needs frost protection, so in cooler districts grow it in a pot that can move under cover in winter.

Soil. Drainage matters most. Choose soil that is rich in organic matter but never sits wet, and mix a humus rich potting mix into the planting hole before you mulch over the roots.

Water and feed. Mulch and water well, especially while it settles in and through dry spells. Fertilise during the flowering season to keep the flushes coming.

Pruning. Very little pruning is needed. Tip prune after a flush of flowers to keep the plant bushy, and avoid hard cuts in cold weather.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell HibisQs Petit Orange Hibiscus as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. A tube is an economical way to plant a run of dwarf hedge, and in warm soil it settles in and starts to grow within a few weeks. Expect a small plant on arrival that builds up before it flowers heavily.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse our hibiscus range
• Hibiscus care guide for Australian gardens
• Plants that thrive in pots
• Plants for small gardens

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Plant 60cm apart in a single row. The plants are 50 to 70cm wide, so they touch within a season or two without crowding each other.

Can I grow it indoors?

It suits pots indoors and outside. Give it the brightest spot you have, because it needs plenty of light to flower, and keep it away from cold draughts.

Will frost damage it?

Yes, so protect it. In frosty districts grow it in a pot and move it under cover for winter, or plant it against a sheltered warm wall.