Description
Growing hibiscus is an easy way to add a tropical flair to your garden. When you know how to care for hibiscus plants, you will be rewarded with many years of lovely flowe
Hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is quite large, containing several hundred species that are native to warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world.
Member species are often noted for their showy flowers and are commonly known simply as hibiscus, or less widely known as rose mallow. Hibiscus plants prefer a cozy fit when growing in a container. This means that they should be slightly root bound in the pot and when you do decide to re-pot, give the hibiscus only a little bit more room. The genus includes both annual and perennial herbaceous plants, as well as woody shrubs and small trees. Flowers may be up to 6 inches diameter, with colors ranging from yellow to peach to red. Hibiscus can be planted singly or grown as a hedge plant; they can also be pruned into a single-stemmed small tree. The flowers are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Hibiscus are deciduous shrubs with dark green leaves; the plants can grow to 15 feet tall in frost-free areas. Flowers may be up to 6 inches diameter. Hibiscus can be planted singly or grown as a hedge plant; they can also be pruned into a single-stemmed small tree.Plant Specifications
| Plant Height | 19 inch (49 cm) |
| Plant Spread | 6 inch (16 cm) |
| Common Name | Chinese hibiscus, Gurhal, Jaswand and tropical hibiscus |
| Maximum Reachable Height | The plants can grow to 15 feet tall in frost-free areas. |
| Flower Colour | Purple |
| Bloom Time | July to December |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to grow |
Planting and care
Hibiscus care
Plant in spring, summer, or fall, spacing plants 3 to 6 feet apart. Dig a hole only as deep as the root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide. If your soil is in very poor condition, amend the soil you ve removed from the hole with a small amount of compost. Otherwise don t amend it at all.
Carefully remove the plant from the container and set it in the hole. Fill the hole half full with soil, then water it well to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets. Let the water drain, then fill the remainder of hole with soil and water thoroughly.
| Sunlight | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| Watering | Hibiscus like water but do not let it stand with wet feet. The soil needs to dry up between watering to protect from root rot. Make certain no excess water remains in the planter half an hour after watering. Pay particular attention to this for plants that are placed in a cool spot where the temperature stays below 60 degrees F (+16 degrees C). It is important to retain from watering with cold water in winter. |
| Soil | Hibiscus want loamy but not too heavy soil. Regular quality potting soil with added compost is an ideal base.The soil should be coarse rather than fine. Watch out for soil that is mainly fine peat, it tends to compact in the pots, resulting in badly aerated roots. |
| Temperature | Temperatures between 60 to 90 degrees F (16 to 32 degrees C)and cannot tolerate temps below 32 degrees F. |
| Fertilizer | For prolific flowering, hibiscus must have regular feeding every week during the growth period, March-October. Water-soluble formulas can be used with every watering. Choose a fertilizer with a low phosphorous value: N (Nitrogen) 20 P (Phosphorous) 5 K (Kalium) 20 is close to ideal. Too much phosphorous makes for many fine leaves but few flowe Hibiscus also need trace elements, especially iron and magnesium. |
| Harvest Season | July to December |
Hibiscus special feature
Flowers
Hibiscus uses
Ornamental Use:
- This plant is used for an ornamental purpose
Medicinal Use:
- Used in many pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical preparations
Culinary Use:
- Chinese eat this flower by making pickle
- Jamaicans use this flower in herbal tea as it contains many minerals and vitaminsDried hibiscus is edible, and it is often a delicacy in Mexico
- It can also be candied and used as a garnish