Yes, they are hardy where you are. They do die back in the winter, but come back from the roots. They won't show signs of life for a while yet, so just be patient.
It doesn't matter if you cut them back since last years' growth is now dead.
They are worth it, I ahve several and love them.
Barb

I grow the Texas Star in Oklahoma City (7a), and it gets about 10-12 feet tall! It's gorgeous and the hummingbirds and butterflies love it!

It is late to show new growth from the roots, as are most hibiscus. They are summer bloomers and love the heat, so they really aren't quite ready to get going yet. I also grow H. moscheutos 'Fantasia', and 'Kopper King'. They are smaller plants. Fantasia has maple-shaped leaves like the Texas Star; Kopper King is bronzy maple-leaf foliage with pale pink blooms with a red center. They are both gorgoues and get huge blooms.

SusanLynne

Great. I will go out today and cut them back. I must admit though that I love the look of last years dead growth. Adds a nice element to the garden. I also have another hibiscus. I need to find out what type it is! Thank you so much for all of your help. Do they need to be heavily mulched over winter? I did not mulch them very well.

I see you're in zone 7. I too am in 7b. Mine start poking up from the ground in April, so it won't be long. Hang in there! Mine were over 7 ft. tall last year.

Great! I am looking forward to seeing it come up. I found the name of the other hibiscus. It is the Kopper King. Hopefully it will come back also!

yep, copper king's a beauty and will be back too!

Just be patient my Texas just sent a shoot up that is about an inch tall within the last couple of days.

Yeah! Mine did, too. I really need to cut back the old stalks now. The stalks are big enough that I have to use a saw.

SusanLynne

Geee! I wish it was not dark. Should I go get a flashlight to check to see if there is any new growth? I check the beans and the corn everyday. I guess I will have to add the Hibiscus to my list! LOL!

Yea!!! The two Texas Star hibiscus have shoots. Still nothing from the Kopper King though. I guess I still have to be patient!

H67 - my Kopper King has still not shown any sign of growth, nor has 'Fantasia' - just be patient. I'm sure you will get growth soon. The Texas Star is always earlier than my others. Last year, we had more rain than we normally get and I lost several branches on the Texas Star, and ALL the branches on 'Fantasia'. I thought it had been killed. Not so.....it came back and flourished despite too much water. I'm convinced these things can take a lot of abuse.

SusanLynne

Great!. I will have to look for Fantasia. I have not see one of these locally. I fell in love with the hibiscus last year. I have three Rose of Sharon but the Texas star out-shines them.

I also have lots of Texas Star. I was checking out another site recently and saw a pic of a white one. Also was told by the guy I buy supplies from that the white might be on the market soon. Has anyone seen one, or know of a source to get seeds?

Sharon, i have a couple of white texas star seeds that i can send you for sase.. i do have seedlings but they are too small to send ..gloria_j

i got 2 texas stars and they're probably my favorite plants in the garden. I didn't cut mine back until February or so and they started coming up again around the end of march. One of them is almost 5 feet tall now.

I just got a small Texas Star Hibiscus plant. I live in zone 9. Should I plant it in full sun or partial sun? Could it live in a large container or does it have to be in the ground?

Gina,
all my hibs except 3 are in pots. The dirt where I live is very poor and they have a hard time in the ground.
My texas stars seem to take full sun pretty good.

Sharon O,
I have had the white tx star for 2 years now.

Susanlynne,
What does the copper king Hib look like? Is it a hardy or tropical?
pa

I need help with my white Texas star. Yesterday all of a sudden all leaves started droping watered and it hasn't recovered. Think I am loosing it. Any ideas of what I can do?
Lee

leew52 sounds like it needs to be in the ground.

hoover67, Texas Stars are nice, but many Rose of Sharon varieties can hold their own against 'em.


Texas Star (Scarlet Hibiscus)
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Rose of Sharon (Minerva)
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Rose of Sharon (Diana)
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Those who grow Texas Star Hibiscus should have lots of seeds each year as even one bloom about 30 seeds and they sure do start easy. Here I start them anytime of the year and end up with too many seeds each time. I have never had any white Star Hibiscus to produce or someone send the wrong seeds. but I do enjoy the Red blooms. I also enjoy the rose-of-Sharon blooms which are hardier the the Florida-Louisiana-Texas Star Hibiscus. I say that because they are native to Florida and Louisiana but ended up being called Texas Star Hibiscus.

I just found this post and want to ask if I should cut my Texas star back ? its in a 1 gal pot and about 10inches tall, will I have to bring it in for the winter or leave the pot and all out side for the winter? this is the first time I've ever had a hibiscus and just not sure what to do with it.
Thanks for any help
Bear

I would not cut them back until they die back unless you are trying to get more starts from your cutting.

Paul