Question
I have a drop dead gorgeous perennial hibiscus that has at least 100 huge 12 inch flowers every year. (Don't know the variety).  I want to propagate but don't know if it will be the same plant if I start from seed.  I'm also afraid to dig up to divide because I would never forgive myself if it died.  Can I do cuttings??  Any suggestions.
Also, do you know what varieties of perennial hibiscus have 12-13 inch flowers.  I have many that have only 6 or 7 inch flowers and don't impress me.

Answer
Hi Debb,
Thanx for your question.  Yes, you can make cuttings but do those in the late spring or early summer.  It's too late in the season now unless you try to grow them indoors and you may be able to do that as long as you have some 4-foot, 40-watt shoplights the cuttings can sit under.  Keep the bottoms warm.  Take 6 inch cuttings and strip off all but the last couple of leaves unless they're really big then I'd strip the whole thing.  Dip in rooting hormone and then stick 1 inch deep in warm, wet sand.  Keep the environment moist, warm and humid.  Rooting should occur within 8 weeks.  You can also layer the plant.  Get some large pots that will fit underneath the shrub.  You can take a branch and scrape it just enough to expose a 1 inch or so wound area and place this in an indentation in the soil in the pot.  Cover with soil and then put a brick or rock on top to keep the branch from coming back out.  Keep it watered but drained.  In 6-8 weeks you should have rooting and you can cut if from the mother plant and grow on as a new plant.  I would do this next spring too. There is a variety called Southern Belle that is supposed to have 10 inch or so blooms.  I think Park Seed and a couple of other places have it.  Here is a company that has it.  I am not endorsing them as I have no experience with them but it is just an example.  I hope this helps.
Tom

http://summerhillseeds.com/hibiscus-southern-belle-p-224.html