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

, ,

Range

Probably arising in tropical Asia, it has long been cultivated and its original habitat is obscure.

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 full sun or partial shade[, , ].
A very ornamental plant, 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[].
A very variable plant[].
There are many named forms, selected for their ornamental value[].

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 in situ or in containers. Germination is usually quite rapid. Prick out container-grown seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions when they are 10cm or more tall.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood in a frame.
Cuttings taken with a heel of the old wood root easily if placed in a jar of water[].
Grafting.

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