Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Edible : Leaves, Flowers, Vegetable,
A shrubby hibiscus used for hedges. It is a evergreen woody shrub. It grows to 2-5 m tall. The bark is grey and flaky. It has fine stripes. The leaves are bright green. They are oval and the edges of the leaves are entire on the lower leaves. The upper leaves are coarsely toothed. The leaves have long tips. The flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. Flowers can be single or double. They are bell shaped and 10-15 cm across. There are a range of colours. The fruit are rounded capsules with many seeds inside. The capsules are beaked. Plants usually do not produce fruit in the hot humid tropics.
A tropical and subtropical plant. A common ornamental throughout the tropics. It originally came from China. It thrives on any type of soil. It is tolerant of salinity. Different types are adapted to sunny or shady places. They grow where average temperatures are between 15-30°C. They are very sensitive to frost. They grow from sea level to 1000 m altitude. They probably require a minimum rainfall of 700 mm per year. It grows in Nepal to 1400 m altitude. It grows in open, moist places. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Common names : Hibiscus, Rose of China, Amapola, Aute samoa, Bup, Bunga raya, Bunga sepatu, Bussouge, Cha-baa, Chaba, Chembarathi, Chinese rose, Clavelon, Dam but, Dasavala, Dasindacha phula, Fasut jasum, Fu sang, Ghanti phul, Gugamela, Gumamela bulaklak, Japa, Jasavanda, Jasum, Jasut, Jasuva, Java pushpamu dasana, Java, Joba, Karibunamidi, Khaung-yan, Khaung-yan-ywet-hla, Kembang sepatu, Kembang sepatu mawar cina, Khubayzah, Kugra, Linyolo, Losi, Mamela, Mandaro, Mar pacifico, Mawkmnae, Pan-swe-le, Phurahong, Pushpam, Rakta puspi, Rooj, Rosa, Rudra, Saimaa, Sapattu mal, Semparuthi, Shoe flower, Te roti, Thelele, Vadamal, Watha wal, Woro wari, Zhu jin,
Synonyms :
Hibiscus arnottii Griff. ex Mast.;
Hibiscus boryanus DC.;
Hibiscus cooperi auct.;
Hibiscus festalis Salisb.;
Hibiscus liliiflorus Griff. ex Mast.;
Hibiscus rosiflorus Stokes;
Hibiscus storkii Seem.;