Ruby hibiscus
Hibiscus radiatus

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows from 0.5-2 m tall. It can be upright or lie over. The leaf stalk is 3-11 cm long and spiny. The leaf blade is wide and often with 3 lobes on the lower stem and 3-5 lobes arranged like fingers on a hand higher up the stem. There are teeth around the edge. Leaves are 5-12 cm long by 4-15 cm wide. The flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. Flowers are purple or red. The fruit is a round capsule about 15 mm across. It has flat long spines. The seeds are triangle shaped. They are brown and about 4 mm across.

There are about 220 Hibiscus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the rainforest. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Central African Republic, CAR, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eswatini, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Himalayas, Honduras, India (country/location of origin), Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Paraguay, SE Asia (country/location of origin), South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, Vietnam, Winward Is.

How it is used for food

The sour leaves are eaten.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Fu she ci fu rong, Kembang sepatu merah, Monarch rosemallow

Synonyms

Canhamo brasiliensis Perini; Hibiscus cannabinus var. unidens Hochr.; Hibiscus heptaphyllus Dalzell & A. Gibson; Hibiscus lindleyi Wall.; Hibiscus unidens Lindl.; Pavonia perinii Perini;