I've never heard of hearty hibiscus before, are you thinking hardy hibiscus? Hardy hibiscus and
rose of Sharon are usually the last shrubs to leaf out in my garden, and don't show much signs of life until late may/early june. You don't need to cut them down. They should come back every year, provided your
zone is not too cold for them. You can prune them to get rid of tangled branches or to maintain their shape.