This is a hibiscus that is not hardy in my zone, which I
bought to be a focal point in a large outdoor planter. As the name implies, it
has dark red, bronzy leaves, which are also finely cut like a Japanese maple. It’s
at least 18” high now, with no branching. Just one stem with leaves springing
straight off it.

Does this plant respond to nipping the tip off to induce
branching further down? I’ve had some plants that just sent up a new leader,
now crooked, so thought I should check first.

When I googled the same I saw photos of nice bushy ones, with no suggestion of how they got that way.

Thanks.

I actually have the same problem with my hardy hibiscus plants:
just one stem. Those have been in the ground about 3 years. Though I don’t know how closely hardy and non-hardy hibiscus
are to each other .