Edible: Leaves, Flowers, Leaves - tea, Seeds - oil, Flowers - tea
A shrub 3-4 m high. It spreads 1.2-1.8 m wide. It loses its leaves in cooler climates. The leaves are oval with teeth around the edge. They are small and hairless. The flowers are purple with crimson centres. The flowers are bell shaped and can be single or double. They are produced in the axils of leaves. There are a range of cultivated varieties.
It is a temperate plant. In the tropics it grows at high altitude. It is frost hardy but flowers are damaged by frost. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. At Anvers Chocolate factory. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Common Names: Bai jin hua, Chaba, Gurhal, Kembang sepatu mawar, Kembang sepatu saro, Mu jin, Shrubby Althæa, Sirski oslez, Swet jaba, Thon-ban-hla, Woody Hibiscus
Synonyms:
Althaea frutex Mill.;
Hibiscus acerifolius Salisb.;
Hibiscus arborescens Gaterau;
Hibiscus floridus Salisb.;
Hibiscus rhombifolius Cav.;
Hibiscus syriacus var. micrantha Y. N. Lee & K. B. Yim;
Ketmia arborea Moench;
Ketmia syriaca (L.) Scop.;
Ketmia syrorum Medik.;