Ritzy Hibiscus

Ritzy Hibiscus (Hibiscus 'Ritzy') is a medium sized evergreen shrub, 1m to 1.5m tall and about 1m wide, that flowers prolifically with large, vivid orange blooms. It brings the tropical look to a garden without the bulk of the giant hibiscus, and it shapes easily into a hedge of up to 1.5m.

Why you'll love it

• Big, intense orange flowers. The blooms are large and vividly coloured, easily the loudest thing in a mixed bed while they last.
• Flowers freely. A terrific performer that sets blooms in quantity, so the shrub looks full rather than sparse in the warm months.
• An exotic hedge in a modest footprint. About 1m wide and up to 1.5m tall, it builds a flowering hedge that does not take over a narrow bed.
• Evergreen. The leaves stay on the plant year round in frost free gardens, so a hedge never goes bare.
• Loves humid weather. It enjoys humidity, which makes it a natural for tropical and subtropical gardens.

Where it works best

Flowering hedge. Plant 80cm apart in a single row. At about 1m wide the shrubs overlap and close into a hedge of 1m to 1.5m, which suits front boundaries and driveway edges.

Mass planting. Group plants 80cm apart in staggered rows for a block of orange in a sunny bed. That spacing also keeps air moving through the plants in humid weather.

Feature plant. A single shrub beside an entry, deck or pool brings tropical colour at a size that is easy to keep in scale.

Growing Ritzy Hibiscus in Australia

Position and climate. Give it sun and shelter. It suits tropical and subtropical gardens best, where humidity keeps it happy, and warm temperate gardens are fine if frost is rare. Keep it out of strong wind and away from exposed sites, and protect it from frost.

Soil. Soil that drains freely and is rich in compost suits it, as long as it never stays wet. Work a humus rich potting mix into the planting hole, then mulch.

Water and feed. Mulch and water well, and keep up the water in dry spells because hibiscus sulk when they dry out. Fertilise after flowering in spring.

Pruning. Prune after flowering in spring to shape the shrub and keep a hedge dense, then fertilise straight afterwards.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Ritzy Hibiscus as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. A tube is the economical way to plant a hedge, and in warm weather it moves from settling in to growing within a few weeks. Expect a small plant on arrival that needs a season or two to reach hedge size.

The tube comes from our grower and is not always in stock. When the grower has none, it 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 for tropical climates
• Hedging and screening plants

Common questions

How far apart should I plant Ritzy for a hedge?

Plant 80cm apart in a single row. The plants are about 1m wide, so they overlap slightly and form a continuous hedge.

How tall will it grow?

Between 1m and 1.5m, with a spread of about 1m. Pruned after spring flowering it stays dense and holds a hedge height of up to 1.5m.

Will it cope with cold winters?

Not with frost. It is a plant for warm climates, so in cooler districts keep it in a pot that can move under cover, or choose a hardier shrub.