Is my Arden Hardy Hibiscus still alive?

Question

Hello,
I’m writing to see if you can assist me in trying to figure out if my Hardy Hibiscus is still alive.
Mine has not started to leaf out yet.
I made a small scratch on the bark and I can see it is green right below bark and beige after that. Also the branches are flexible and don’tsnap when bent.
Here are some pics of it on my deck.
What do you think?
I live in Jersey City, NJ 07302 which I think is zone 7.
I’m thinking it may not have made it because of the unusually harsh winter we had here in the north east.
Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Julio Ortiz

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Answer 1

It is still alive, for sure. It may be damaged by the harsh winter, and can take up to a full year to recover. Don't give up on it just yet. I would also make sure to mulch during the winter, as this will help give some protection against the cold.