Tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) thrives in warm regions and grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Cold temperatures, disease and drought will all easily kill this plant. There are certain signs to look for on a hibiscus to tell if it is truly dead or if the plant will come back when the weather gets better. These signs of plant death also apply to other woody shrubs and small trees.
The second layer of bark will tell you if the branch is dead. By scratching just the top layer of bark off with your fingernail, you expose the second layer. If this second layer is brown and dry instead of green and moist, the branch is dead. If you scratched the bark at the base of the hibiscus and see brown underneath, the entire plant is likely dead.
The leaves of the hibiscus may indicate if the plant is truly dead. Look at the color and texture of the leaves. If they are dry and crispy and still clinging to the branches, the hibiscus will probably be dead. It is natural for dead leaves to be shed from a plant, but plants that hang onto dead leaves have lost the ability to jettison this dead matter. In most cases, this happens because the plant is dead, according to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's Ask Mr. Smarty Plants.
Hibiscus will resprout in the spring time when the temperatures get warmer. Look for new growth on the plant, both branches and leaves. If the entire plant seems brown and does not start to regrow at the same time other hibiscuses you have in your yard do, it is likely that the plant is dead.
Some people see a dropping of flower buds as a sign that their hibiscus is dying. This is not an indication of a dead hibiscus, but it is a sign of stress to the plant. If your plant does not get enough light or if the watering or temperatures are erratic, the plant may lose its flowers as a self-protection response. Return to a regular watering schedule and wait for temperatures to become more steady and the plant should recover.
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