Hibiscus
| Habit | shrub
| |
|---|---|---|
| Lifespan: | ⌛ | perennial, annual |
| Exposure: | ☼ | sun |
|---|---|---|
| Water: | ◍ | moderate, dry |
| Features: | ✓ | flowers |
| Sunset Zones: | varies by species | |
| Flower features: | ❀ | red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, multicolored, pink, white, single, double, everblooming |
|
Hibiscus > |
Hibiscus, or rosemallow, is a large genus of about 200-220 species of flowering plants native to warm, temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. The genus includes both annual and perennial herbaceous plants, and woody shrubs and small trees. Seven species are commonly grown, one is annual, another is a perennial that is like a shrub, two are shrubs that are decidious and three shrubs that are evergreen. These seven are cultivated primarily for their showy flowers, though one is grown mostly as food and another for its colored foliage.
The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to lanceolate, often with a toothed or lobed margin. The flowers are large, conspicuous, trumpet-shaped, with five or more petals, ranging from white to pink, red, purple or yellow, and from 4-15 cm broad. The fruit is a dry five-lobed capsule, containing several seeds in each lobe, which are released when the capsule splits open at maturity.
Cultivation
Tropical hibiscus plants need to be kept in warm temperatures, and bloom best in temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 degrees. They like regular water, but may tolerate low levels of water. Ensure good drainage so water does not sit by the roots. Water more in warm weather, and in colder weather, only water the plant if it looks dry. Hibiscus thrive with plant food. If you are potting your flower, make sure the pot excellent drainage. Spraying plants and under leaves with strong jets of water helps protect against aphid and whitefly infestations. Care for individual species can vary a great deal, so see species listed below for additional information.
Propagation
Mainly by rooting cuttings or seed.
Pests and diseases
Whitefly, aphids, scales, etc. Hibiscus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Chionodes hibiscella, Hypercompe hambletoni, the Nutmeg moth, and the Turnip Moth.
Species
In temperate zones, probably the most commonly grown ornamental species is Hibiscus syriacus, the common garden Hibiscus, also known in some areas as the "Rose of Althea" or "Rose of Sharon" (but not to be confused with the unrelated Hypericum calycinum, also called "Rose of Sharon"). In tropical and subtropical areas, the Chinese hibiscus (H. rosa-sinensis), with its many showy hybrids, is the most popular hibiscus.
About 200-220 species are known, including the following (the top 7 species grown are in bold):
Gallery
At left, a flower emerges from a bud. At right, the same flower less than 18 hours later.
Pink hibiscus
External links
