Hibiscus, Rose of China
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Family: Malvaceae
What it is like
A shrubby hibiscus used for hedges. It is a evergreen woody shrub. It grows to 2-5 m tall. The bark is grey and flaky. It has fine stripes. The leaves are bright green. They are oval and the edges of the leaves are entire on the lower leaves. The upper leaves are coarsely toothed. The leaves have long tips. The flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. Flowers can be single or double. They are bell shaped and 10-15 cm across. There are a range of colours. The fruit are rounded capsules with many seeds inside. The capsules are beaked. Plants usually do not produce fruit in the hot humid tropics.
It is used in medicine in Indonesia. There are about 220 Hibiscus species and many cultivated varieties of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.
Where it is found
A tropical and subtropical plant. A common ornamental throughout the tropics. It originally came from China. It thrives on any type of soil. It is tolerant of salinity. Different types are adapted to sunny or shady places. They grow where average temperatures are between 15-30°C. They are very sensitive to frost. They grow from sea level to 1000 m altitude. They probably require a minimum rainfall of 700 mm per year. It grows in Nepal to 1400 m altitude. It grows in open, moist places. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Central America, China (country/location of origin), Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Europe, Fiji, France, FSM, Ghana, Greece, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Kiribati, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mariana Islands, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Mediterranean, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, Portugal, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, UAE, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The leaves are eaten cooked. In some places they are pounded before cooking. The flowers are eaten raw or pickled. They are also added to drinks. They are used to colour foods including preserved fruit, sliced pineapple, agar-agar jellies, and cooked vegetables. The fresh flower ovary is eaten.
In Papua New Guinea it is mostly grown as an ornamental but is eaten in some areas.
Edible parts
Leaves, flowers, vegetable
How it is grown
It is mostly grown from cuttings or grafting.
Its other names
Local names
Amapola, Aute samoa, Bup, Bunga raya, Bunga sepatu, Bussouge, Cha-baa, Chaba, Chembarathi, Chinese rose, Clavelon, Dam but, Dasavala, Dasindacha phula, Fasut jasum, Fu sang, Ghanti phul, Gugamela, Gumamela bulaklak, Japa, Jasavanda, Jasum, Jasut, Jasuva, Java pushpamu dasana, Java, Joba, Karibunamidi, Khaung-yan, Khaung-yan-ywet-hla, Kembang sepatu, Kembang sepatu mawar cina, Khubayzah, Kugra, Linyolo, Losi, Mamela, Mandaro, Mar pacifico, Mawkmnae, Pan-swe-le, Phurahong, Pushpam, Rakta puspi, Rooj, Rosa, Rudra, Saimaa, Sapattu mal, Semparuthi, Shoe flower, Te roti, Thelele, Vadamal, Watha wal, Woro wari, Zhu jin
Synonyms
Hibiscus arnottii Griff. ex Mast.; Hibiscus boryanus DC.; Hibiscus cooperi auct.; Hibiscus festalis Salisb.; Hibiscus liliiflorus Griff. ex Mast.; Hibiscus rosiflorus Stokes; Hibiscus storkii Seem.;