Common Name: Chinese Hibiscus

General Information

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is an erect, much branched, glabrous, evergreen shrub or small tree growing 1 - 4 metres tall[].
The plant is widely cultivated in the gardens of the tropics as an ornamental and useful plant[]. It provides food, medicines and a dye, and is one of the most commonly grown hedges in the Tropics[]. The flowers are very important in Hindu devotional ceremonies, being sacred to the Elephant God, Ganesh[]. Individual flowers are short-lived, in many modern cultivars the flowers wither after 24 hours though in many of the older cultivars they can last for 48 hours[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

Probably originated in tropical Asia, but now widely cultivated as an ornamental and useful plant

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild situation

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental

Cultivation Details

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is cultivated as an ornamental plant throughout the tropics and subtropics and also in the warmer regions of the temperate zone. It is not a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to around -4°c when fully dormant.
Prefers a well-drained humus rich fertile soil in a warm, sheltered position in full sun[, ].
A very ornamental plant, it might be possible to grow it as a tender annual by starting it off early in a warm greenhouse. If well-grown it can flower and set seed in its first year. This species grows very well in a frost-free conservatory in cooler regions of the temperate zone so long as it is in a sunny position and free from draughts[].
There are many named forms, selected for their ornamental value[].
Plants will often lose most of their leaves in cool winters, though they will normally regenerate quickly as the warmer weather returns[].
The flowers of Chinese hibiscus are very important in Hindu devotional ceremonies, being sacred to the Elephant God, Ganesh[].
Individual flowers are short-lived, in many modern cultivars the flowers wither after 24 hours though in many of the older cultivars they can last for 48 hours[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves are sometimes used as a spinach substitute[, ]. A valuable emergency source of greens[]. A nutritional analysis is available[].

Flowers - raw or cooked[]. They can also be made into a kind of pickle or used as a purple dye for colouring foods such as preserved fruits and cooked vegetables[, ]. The flowers are produced all year round[]. A nutritional analysis is available[].

Root - it is edible but very fibrous[]. Mucilaginous, without very much flavour[].

Medicinal

Chinese hibiscus is a sweet, astringent, cooling herb that checks bleeding, soothes irritated tissues and relaxes spasms[].

The flowers are aphrodisiac, demulcent, emmenagogue, emollient and refrigerant[]. They are used internally in the treatment of excessive and painful menstruation, cystitis, venereal diseases, feverish illnesses, bronchial catarrh, coughs and to promote hair growth[, ]. An infusion of the flowers is given as a cooling drink to ill people[].

The leaves are anodyne, aperient, emollient and laxative[]. A decoction is used as a lotion in the treatment of fevers[]. A preparation from the leaves is used to treat postpartum relapse sickness, to treat boils, sores and inflammations[].

The leaves and flowers are beaten into a paste and poulticed onto cancerous swellings and mumps[]. The flowers are used in the treatment of carbuncles, mumps, fever and sores[].

The root is a good source of mucilage and is used as a substitute for marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis) in the treatment of coughs and colds[, ]. A decoction of the root is used to treat sore eyes[]. A paste made from the root is used in the treatment of venereal diseases[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants are amenable to trimming and flower for most of the year[]. This makes them particularly suitable for growing as an ornamental and useful hedge - indeed they are one of the most commonly used hedge plants in the tropics[].

Other Uses

The petals turn black when crushed. The juice from the petals is used in China as shoe-blacking and a black mascara[, , ]. A dye is made from the petals[].
Paper coloured with the petals can be used in the place of litmus as a test for acids and alkalis[, ].

A good quality fibre is obtained from the stems[]. In warm sub-tropical areas the fibres can be up to 3 metres long, but in Britain they are likely to be much shorter. The fibre is used for coarse fabrics, nets and paper[].

An extract of the flowers is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a humectant, hair conditioner and skin conditioner[].
A powder obtained from the flowers is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner and tonic[].
An extract of the flowers and leaves is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner and tonic[].
An extract of the leaves is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a bleaching agent and hair conditioner[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse. Germination is usually fairly rapid. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. If growing them as annuals, plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer and protect them with a frame or cloche until they are growing away well. If hoping to grow them as perennials, then it is better to grow them on in the greenhouse for their first year and to plant them out in early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame. Overwinter them in a warm greenhouse and plant out after the last expected frosts.