Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets Abelmoschus manihot - Aibika, Edible Hibiscus

Edible Portion: Leaves, Flower buds, Vegetable, Root, Fruit, Pods

A branched shrub up to 2 m or more high. It has rounded twigs which are green and smooth. The leaves are simple, smooth and with 3 to 5 lobes. The leaves are large and can vary in shape. Normally the leaves are very dark green, but occasionally pale green types occur. The leaf stalks are 6 to 13 cm long. The stalks can be green or have red colours on them. The flowers are borne singly and are yellow with dark purple centres. They are produced on mature bushes and the flowers are hibiscus like. The fruit pods are rather stiff or with bristly hairs. They are a dry capsule with many small seeds. Plants can last for a year or for several years. Old plants produce a hibiscus type flower