Another Reclamation Project: Hibiscus (Rosa sinensis) 'Brilliant'

Unpruned - as purchased

There's nothing I like better than the "50% off table"  at the nursery..that & the challenge of taking-on a reclamation project for a specimen that has been overlooked, ignored or  badly served.

I was, sort-of, considering an Azealea to replace the Azealea that I managed to kill, last year. I didn't know how finicky they can be, but then happened to see this "Franken-plant" with the orange splotch on it's pot.(signifies 50% Off).

Rosa sinensis is also called Tropical Hibiscus, Chinese Hibiscus or Chinese Rose; this particular cultivar "Brilliant" has bright red blooms(supposedly). 

This plant is an evergreen & blooms year round (if kept outdoors). It is not hardy. He can be kept as either a shrub or tree, according to how it is pruned.

As you can see from the photos, the lower half of the plant was obscured by a "helter-skelter" of unpruned foliage & was testament to how long this plant has been untended to the extent that there was no choice but to "clean house" & be ruthless with the shears.

1st Pruning - Feb. 4, 2026

Once I cleared away some of the overgrowth & opened up the trunk & pruned dead, near-dead & cross-branches, we can start to see what this tree looks like..

Now that I can see what I've got to work with, I need some time to evaluate & research what I might do with this specimen, & that's going to take some time..in the meantime...

Potted 3 cuttings from the Hibiscus & there will be more, as time goes on. 

I will also try to get a photo/history page started for this tree before we go any further.