This is a red leaved, non-hardy hibiscus that has leaves similar to a Japanese maple. I bought this back in late May as a centerpiece annual for a large outdoor planter.

I attempted to induce branching several times by nipping off the tips. All it did was just send up a new leader, though. It has 3 main branches, plus one smaller one near the base that it had when I bought it. It is now about 3 feet tall. It has not bloomed: but I bought it for the leaves anyway.

I recently saw some nice clusters of it planted in a botanic garden; unlike mine, those were nice and full. I don’t know how they induced branching in theirs. Their tags said Red Hibiscus: my tag names it Mahogany Hibiscus. They look identical, though, except for the fullness factor.

Is there anything I need to know about keeping this inside over the winter? I bring my common tropical hibiscus plants inside. They bloom occasionally, too. It is not unusual for them to lose a fair number of leaves, but then they stabilize. Those branch without much problem if I nip the tips while actively growing.

Temperatures will dip down to the upper 30’s at night this week. So it’s time for me to bring this and the other tropical hibiscus indoors.