Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets Hibiscus mutabilis

Edible: Leaves, Root, Flowers, Leaves - tea

A shrub which loses its leaves during the year. It grows to 3 m high and spreads to 2m across. The stem is erect and branching. The stem is covered with soft, star shaped hairs. The leaves are large and oval and divided like fingers on a hand and have 3-7 pointed lobes. The leaves can be 17 cm long. The flowers are funnel shaped and white and turn deep pink in a day. They can be double or single. They are 10 cm across. There are some named varieties.

A tropical plant. It grows best in light to medium, well drained soils. It needs an open sunny position. It needs a humus rich, fertile soil. It is damaged by frost and cannot tolerate drought. It needs a temperature above 13°C. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Common Names: Rose of Sharon, Confederate rose, Bettada tavare, Changeable rose, Changing Rose, Chinaparatti, Chinese rose, Cotton rose, Fu rong hua, Gul-i-ajaib, Hinaparutti, Irratai-vellaichembarattam, Jushuanghua, Kyet-shaw, Mu fu rong, Neladavare, Phudung, Phuttan, Resisting frost flower, Sembarattai, Shalapara, Sthal kamal, Sthalopidmo, Sthalpadma, Suryakanti, Taw-wah, Tholopodmo, Thon-ban-hla, Tree lotus, Waru ladak, White Mallow

Synonyms: 

Abelmoschus mutabilis (L.) Wall. ex Hassk.;
Abelmoschus venustus Walp.;
Hibiscus immutabilis Dehnh.;
Hibiscus javanicus Weinm.;
Hibiscus malvarosa Noronha;
Hibiscus sinensis Mill.;
Ketmia mutabilis (L.) Moench;