Wild hollyhock
Hibiscus ludwigii

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 2-3 m high. The leaves are hairy. They are round and 8 cm across. There can be 3-5 small lobes. There are teeth along the edge. The flowers are large and yellow with a purple or red centre. They are 7 cm across. The fruit is an oval capsule with bristles. The seeds are smooth and almost kidney shaped.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on the Nyika plateau in NE Zambia and Malawi. It grows on the edges of forests up to 2,400 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa (country/location of origin), Asia, East Africa, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Malawi, Rwanda, SE Asia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Vegetable, flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Elejai, Kororwe, Lipeke-peke, Lumaka, Umushoshwe, Waru hutan

Synonyms

Cienfuegosia althaeoides Chiov.; Hibiscus calycularis E. Mey. ex Harv.;