I grow lots of them and they can stay in the 4" for a very long time but will not grow very big until they are in the soil.
Here's one of mine. 2years old

{{gwi:227165}}

Thanks!! And that bloom is AWESOME! I'm hoping mine will end up as good, as I'm actually growing them for a friend. Fingers crossed for first year blooms!

Mine always bloom the 1st year, but kinda piddly. Year 2 they come alive!!! Show stoppers :) lol
fingers crossed for ya
:) Laura

auntyara - Beautiful picture! I started mine from seed in early March and I have a couple about 3" or so tall with maybe 3 true leaves. They grow really slowly - I assume that is par for the course?

What kind of temperatures/conditions can they take? I live near Seattle - we have cool and rainy (but not frosty) weather through June. Will they be happy with daytime temperatures in the 50s and nighttime temps in the 30s/40s?

thanks for the compliments :)
I live in NY zone 5 they love it here. They die back all the way and don't even start to come up til mid to late may. Grow super fast after that. They start flowering in July? til frost. hope that helped :)

Is anyone still around to help me? I have Hardy Hibiscus pink, white, and white with dark pink insides...that look like your picture. Will the plants grow from the seeds off of the bush? When do you pick the seeds and How do you store the seeds until they are ready for use? My Dad planted these over 50 years ago but it wasn't from seed. The stalks dry up in Sept/Oct and it hibernates until May. Thanks, Pat in Chicago