Confederate Rose (Hibiscus) From Seed

A few months ago, my Mother gave me a large bag of hairy seeds and asked me to see if they would grow. The bag was labeled "Confederate Rose" and looked quite crumpled and old. It turns out that the seeds were collected from a plant that grew in Mom's back yard more than 5 years earlier, and had been in the closet ever since. Unable to refuse a challenge, I began looking up the correct process for germinating confederate rose seeds. There seems to be quite a few different methods out there, depending on time of year, zone, and materials available, but I have found what worked for me and will probably work for you in similar conditions, controlled by light, humidity, etc.

Scarification:

The first step in the process is to mechanically thin the seed coat to promote the penetration of moisture and thus, shortening the germination time needed. I do this by rolling the seeds between two pieces of 120 grit sandpaper. Use moderate pressure and sand until the hairs are gone and there is a noticeable discoloration of the outer coat. Careful not to sand too much and damage the inner parts of the seed.

Soaking:

Soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours. Some of the seed coats may fall away as the seeds absorb moisture, this is not a problem, simply handle the seeds carefully. Strain the seeds using a fine coffee/tea strainer. Do not allow the seeds to dry out before planting!

Plant:

Plant the seeds in the garden if it is spring. If not, plant in 6 X 6 flats (36 cells) and place humidity domes over each. I use grow lights set for 12-16 hours of daylight. Seeds should sprout in 5-8 days. When the seedlings have 4-6 true leaves, plant them out in pots or in the garden after danger of frost. These plants are quite vigorous and you may not want to try growing them in your home. Seedlings will grow 5 feet tall or more before frost.

The picture below shows some seedlings that I grew in Dixie cups that I cut drain holes in. They are easy to remove and transplant into pots by rolling the cups upside down and catching the plant with roots and soil attached. These are ready to transplant.