Q: I'd like to create a flowering hedge and I love hibiscus. Would that work?

A:  Yes, tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) does well in frost-free areas in full sun (may need a bit of shade in very hot areas) and can be pruned into a lovely evergreen hedge, but it takes a bit more work than other plants. Hibiscus is a fast grower and blooms on new wood so if you don't prune, you will get fewer and fewer flowers. However, an overall pruning will slice up a lot of the large leaves, so if you decide to use the electric hedge clippers, consider doing one side each year which will encourage blooming but let new leaves have time to grow. A second method is more work but the hedge will always look good and bloom well. In June target about a third of the branches, evenly distributed throughout the shrub, and cut them back one or two feet into the shub. In July, do this to another third of the branches, and in August do the last third.  This way you will keep them in bounds and have lots of flowers too. Note: the fancier varieties of hibiscus don't tend to make as dense a hedge, and giant white fly can be a problem.