Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) – Description, Care & Uses

Leaf Persistence
Evergreen
Form
Vase Shape Shrub
Texture
Medium
Growth Rate
Fast

Flowering Period (Tropics)
Year Round
Fruiting Period
Year Round
Height
3-5 m (9.8-16.4 ft)
Diameter
1.5-3 m (4.9-9.8 ft)

Leaves Shape
Ovate
Foliage Colour
Green
Autumn Foliage Colour
Green

Flowers Shape
Funnel-Shaped
Flowers Colour
Red
Fruit
Brown Capsule

Soil Type: Well-drained, sand, loam
Exposure: Sun
Soil pH: 6-7.5
Watering: Moderate
Hardiness: 1.7 °C (35 °F – USDA Hardiness Zone 10b)

In parks, squares, gardens, pots and containers indoors and outdoors

The name of the genus Hibiscus is a Latin word derived from the Ancient Greek Ιβίσκος. With this name described the plant Althea (Μολόχα) the important Greek physician and botanist of the 1st CE century Dioscorides, who originated in Tarsus of Cilicia – a city of Turkey located very close to the borders of the once prosperous and now – at the time of writing – unfortunately still martyr Syria. The word Ιβίσκος itself, on the other hand, is of unknown etymology, while it is speculated that it has Pre-Greek origins.

The name rosa – sinensis is a Neo-Latin phrase that is composed – that’s amazing! – by the words rosa and sinensis. The word rosa derives its origin from the Spanish rosa, which comes from Latin rosa, which comes from Ancient Greek ῥόδον and means rose.

The second word sinensis comes from Ancient Greek Σῖναι, which probably originates from the Sanskrit word चीन and means China. That is, the name of the species rosa – sinensis is finally translated as China rose or rose of China.

At this point, the editorial team of ‘Kalliergeia’ feels the urgent need to state that the botanical name of the species is one of the most misplaced in the history of the scientific name of the plants. And the reason will be apparent from the following writing.

Although it is called China rose or rose of China, Chinese Hibiscus neither rose nor Chinese it is – exclusively. In all probability it is and Chinese, and East Indian, and East African and most of the tropical areas around the Equatorial Line, with the exception of the sea.

In other words, this amazing bush with the beautiful flowers is of unknown origin.

Tropical Hibiscus, planted in the appropriate soil-climate environment, can become one of the best friends of man. It lives a little longer than the dog, often exceeding the age of 50, and unlike the dog it does not bite.

Chinese Hibiscus is an evergreen (in tropical) perennial vase-shaped shrub, of rather upright habit. With the appropriate prunings however, it can be formed into a small tree with one or more trunks.

Its canopy is symmetrical, of medium textured and density. And the canopy of the plant with the appropriate pruning can take shapes other than the natural – although its usual formed as spherical.

The dominant decorative feature of the plant is its red flower, which appears, of course, during the plant’s long (in favorable conditions) flowering period, which lasts for 120 days or more.

The shoots of the plant are mainly vertical. At young age, the twigs, are medium-thick, slightly pubescent and reddish. The mature shoots are hairless and covered with greyish-brown bark.

Tropical Hibiscus has single, hermaphrodite, funnel-shaped flowers. They are usually erect in the axillary of the leaves and are restrained by a pedicle of length 1 to 7 cm (0.4-2.75 in). The calyx has a bell-shaped morph and consists of 5 light green coloured sepals.

The corola is formed by 5 wrinkled petals and is 4 to 10 cm (1.57-3.93 in) wide. The petals have are obovate, clawed with an obtuse apex and with crenate margins.Their length ranging from 5 to 9 cm (1.96-3.54 in) and their width from 3 to 7 cm (1.18-2.75 in).

Pollination occurs mainly by birds and secondarily by insects – the latter include of course bees and butterflies.

The fruit of Chinese Hibiscus is an oval shaped five-cell capsule. It is smooth, bears numerous seeds, has a brown color and a length of between 2 and 2.5 cm (0.78-0.98 in).

Tropical Hibiscus does not tolerate low temperatures. The minimum temperatures, which are also the lowest strength limit, range between 4 to 1,7 °C (40-35 °F). Of course fully established trees can, for a short time, tolerate temperatures of 0 to -4 up to -6 °C (32 to 24.8 up to 21.2 °F), with manageable damages.

At high temperatures the plant’s behavior is excellent. AHS classifies the plant in zones 6-11 and indeed, temperatures often reaching 40 °C (104 °F) have no negative effect on the plant except one: flowering stops. And it stops because Hibiscus blooms at temperatures ranging between 18 and 28 to 32 °C (64.4 and 82.4 to 89.6 °F).

Chinese Hibiscus growing in a variety of soil types provided they drain well. Soils that water logged should be avoided or added sand or other similar materials to improve their structure. Fertile, loam sandy and loam soils are best suited for Hibiscus planting. For pot plants optimum soil mixture consisting of 2 parts excellent quality potting soil, 1 part peat moss, 1 part compost neutral pH and 1 part perlite or zeolite.

As for pH, it grows in a range of values ranging from 6 to 7.5, but prefers slightly acidic soils with values ranging from 6.5 to 6.8.

Chinese Hibiscus fertilization is carried out from beginning of spring until the beginning of autumn. Can be used a complete fertilizer with main elements N-P-K in a ratio of 1: 1: 1.5 (12-12-17) or 1: 1:1 (20-20-20). Administration is done once, if it is controlled release, or in doses at a frequency of 1 every 15 to 20 days.

The indicative total amount of administration for adult shrubs is 150 to 300 gr (0.33 – 0.66 lb). The 1/3 of the quantity is given by the first application, while over the same period, administration of Magnesium Sulphate is necessary. No other fertilization required after the beginning of autumn.

Regarding the organic matter of the soil, it is recommended to add 25 to 50 liters of neutral pH compost per plant in late autumn with early winter.

Tropical Hibiscus needs systematic irrigation for satisfactory flower production but also for covering the water needs of the plant in general. That is why in no case is the soil allowed to dry. The same applies to the soil mixture in potted plants.

Chinese Hibiscus has some problems from pests and diseases. In most cases, the issue is rather aesthetic but there are also some that can become a major problem.

• Aleurodicus dispersus (Spiralling Whitefly)
• Aleurodicus dugesii (Giant Whitefly)

• Aphis sp. (Aphids)

• Tetranychus urticae (Red Spider Mite)

• Oligonychus ilicis (Southern Red Mite)

• Pinnaspis strachani (Lesser Snow Scale)

• Paratachardina pseudolobata (Lobate Lac Scale)

• Phenococcus solenopsis (Cotton Mealybug)
• Paracoccus marginatus (Marginal Mealybug)

• Ferrisia virgata (Spotted Mealybug)

• Phyllosticta dioscoreae

• Phytophthora nicotianae (Black Shank)

• Pseudomonas syringae pv. hibiscus(Bacterial Leaf Spot)
• Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (Bacterial Canker)

• Pseudomonas cichorii (Bacterial Blight Of Endive)

Chinese Hibiscus is not toxic to humans and pets. However, direct skin contact with plant parts of Tropical Hibiscus may cause dermatitis, irritation or skin rash in people with plant sensitivity.

As an entomophilous plant, it does not cause allergic respiratory reactions with its pollen.

Almost all plant parts of the Chinese Hibiscus are used ethnobotanical in various forms in the traditional medicine of many peoples. In particular, they are administered against spasms, bronchitis, diarrhea, stomach aches and gonorrhea, as well as for the treatment of period abnormalities.

Modern research – and in the case of Chinese Hibiscus – justified the traditional use of the plant. Chinese Hibiscus has anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, aphrodisiac, anxiolytic and antioxidant properties and is used as an alternative medicine to combat the respective diseases.

The References of the unknown origin Chinese Hibiscus, are presented by the well-known origins artists Mariam Doumbia, Amadou Bagayoko and Manu Chao with the song Senegal Fast Food.