Question
I have had a hibiscus perennial for 3 seasons now (I believe it is a herbaceous peonies)??  It is not a tree.  It was 2 stalks when I bought it, and each year it grows back with triple the stalks.  Anyway, The last few falls I cut it all the way to the ground when it died, and it always came back full force.  This past fall I did not cut it down thinking that it would not quadruple in size that way.  However, now that spring has arrived and all my other perennials are blooming except for that one, I am worried it is not going to do anything this year.  Concerned about the fact nothing has begun happening yet, I began reading about how you are supposed to cut them to the ground every fall, and this year I did not.  Will it still grow?? and should I cut down all the dead stalks now, or will they begin to green again like my trumpets do?  I peeled back some of the outside wood to see if anything was going on on the inside, but it is all dry and corklike.  I live in New Jersey and we are at the end of April. What should I do to get this thing growing?  I can't imagine a summer without it's beautiful flowers:(

-April

Answer
Hi April,
thanx for your question.  It sounds like you have a hibiscus not an herbaceous peony.  Hibiscus emerge slowly in the spring.  Go ahead and remove the dead growth.  The plant should emerge in New Jersey some time in May.  Give the environment a chance to be consistently warm.  I hope this helps.
Tom