STANDARD / Hibiscus Tiliaceus 'Rubra'

Cottonwood / Red Cottonwood / Bronze Cottonwood, / Sea Hibiscus / Beach Hibiscus

Botanical Name: Hibiscus tiliaceus 'Rubra'
Family: Malvaceae
Origin: Coastal northern Australia & Indo-Pacific
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub (grafted standard)

Overview

Hibiscus tiliaceus ‘Rubra’ standard gives instant tropical drama on a clear trunk. The rounded canopy carries lush bronze–burgundy to copper-green heart-shaped leaves that glow in sun. Warm-season flowers are classic hibiscus cups—butter-yellow with a deep maroon eye, ageing through apricot to red in a day—bringing colour and nectar in Adelaide’s coastal and metro gardens.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 1.5–3 m H × 1–2 m W (as a maintained standard)
• Growth Rate: 30-60 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Large, velvety bronze/burgundy new growth maturing to copper-green/olive; richest colour in full sun
• Flowers: Yellow blooms with maroon centre spring–autumn; age to orange/red; attractive to pollinators
  
• Seasonal Interest: Year-round coloured foliage; long warm-season flowering
• Wildlife Value: Nectar for bees, butterflies and honeyeaters; dense canopy offers shelter
• Tolerance: Coastal & wind tolerant; salt-spray hardy; drought tolerant once established; light frost tolerant (protect from hard frosts)
• Planting Density: Standards/avenues: space 1.5–2.0 m apart
• Pet Friendly: Yes — generally regarded as non-toxic; ingestion may cause mild tummy upset

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to light part shade (full sun = best foliage colour and flowering)
• Soil: Well-drained sandy or loamy soils; tolerates coastal alkalinity; avoid prolonged waterlogging
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 7–14 days in summer (more in heatwaves); little in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Mulch in spring; light clip 2–4×/yr to keep the canopy tight; remove any shoots from below the graft; slow-release feed in early spring; stake young standards until established
• Lifespan: 15-25+ years
• Climate Zones: Best in metro/coastal SA; give frost protection in colder Hills pockets
• Soil pH: Slightly acid to neutral, tolerates mildly alkaline

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Formal pairs flanking gates, paths and entries
• Statement pot standard for patios and courtyards (45–60 cm+ pot)
• Tropical/coastal schemes with lomandra, dianella, cordyline and blue chalk sticks

Why You Will Love It

A bold, colour-rich standard that loves Adelaide’s coastal conditions—glossy tropical foliage, beach-tough resilience and cheerful flowers through the warm months, all on a neat, easily maintained lollipop canopy.