Hibiscus
Genus of plants
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Several species are widely cultivated as ornamental plants, notably Hibiscus syriacus and Hibiscus × rosa-sinensis.
Description
Vegetative characteristics
Hibiscus are annual or perennial, 0.1–4 m tall shrubs, subshrubs, trees, or herbs with alternate, usually stipulate, petiolate leaves with an entire or lobed margin. The leaf venation is pinnate or palmate.
Generative characteristics
The flowers are large and conspicuous. They are trumpet-shaped, with five or more petals, colour from white to pink, red, blue, orange, peach, and from 4–18 cm broad. Flower colour in certain species, such as H. mutabilis and H. tiliaceus, changes with age. The fruit is a dry five-lobed capsule, containing several seeds in each lobe, which are released when the capsule dehisces (splits open) at maturity. It is of red and white colours. It is an example of complete flowering.
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Taxonomy
It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 with Hibiscus syriacus L. as the type species.
Etymology
The generic name is derived from the Greek name ἱβίσκος (hibískos) which Greek botanist Pedanius Dioscorides gave to a plant now scientifically labelled as Althaea officinalis.
Distribution
Hibiscus species are numerous, and are native to a wide variety of tropical and warm temperate regions, from China to East Africa to Hawaii.
Species
Several hundred species (433 in 2026) are accepted, including:
- Hibiscus acapulcensis Fryxell
- Hibiscus acetosella Welw. ex Hiern. – false roselle
- Hibiscus aculeatus Walter — comfortroot
- Hibiscus aethiopicus L.
- Hibiscus aponeurus Sprague & Hutch.
- Hibiscus × archeri W.Watson — red hibiscus
- Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray — koki'o Ke'oke'o (Hawaii)
- Hibiscus bifurcatus Cav. — fork-bracted rosemallow
- Hibiscus biseptus S.Watson — Arizona rosemallow
- Hibiscus boryanus DC. — foulsapate marron (Mauritius and Réunion)
- Hibiscus brackenridgei A.Gray — Hawaiian hibiscus ma'o hau hele
- Hibiscus calyphyllus Cav. — lemonyellow rosemallow (tropical Africa)
- Hibiscus cameronii Knowles & Westc. — Cameron's hibiscus, pink hibiscus
- Hibiscus cannabinus L. — Kenaf
- Hibiscus clayi O.Deg. & I.Deg.— Hawaiian red hibiscus (Hawaii)
- Hibiscus coccineus (Medik.) Walter — scarlet rosemallow
- Hibiscus columnaris Cav. — mahot rempart
- Hibiscus cooperi J.Veitch f. — one of the parent species of Hibiscus × rosa-sinensis (Erromango Island, Vanuatu)
- Hibiscus coulteri Harv. ex A.Gray — desert rosemallow
- Hibiscus dasycalyx S.F.Blake & Shiller — Neches River rosemallow
- Hibiscus denudatus Benth. — pale face (Southwestern US, Northwestern Mexico)
- Hibiscus dioscorides A.G.Mill. (Yemen)
- Hibiscus diriffan A.G.Mill. (Yemen)
- Hibiscus diversifolius Jacq. — swamp hibiscus
- Hibiscus elatus Sw. – mahoe
- Hibiscus engleri K.Schum. – wild hibiscus
- Hibiscus erlangeri (Gürke) Thulin (Ethiopia and Somalia)
- Hibiscus escobariae Fryxell
- Hibiscus fragilis DC.—mandrinette (Mascarene Islands)
- Hibiscus furcellatus Desr. — lindenleaf rosemallow (Caribbean, Florida, Central America, South America, Hawaii)
- Hibiscus genevei Bojer (Mauritius)
- Hibiscus grandiflorus Michx. — swamp rosemallow (Southeastern US)
- Hibiscus hamabo Siebold & Zucc.
- Hibiscus heterophyllus Vent. — native rosella
- Hibiscus hirtus L. — lesser mallow
- Hibiscus hispidissimus Griff.
- Hibiscus insularis Endl. — Phillip Island hibiscus (Phillip Island)
- Hibiscus kaute L.A.J. Thompson & Butaud — one of the parent species of Hibiscus × rosa-sinensis (French Polynesia)
- Hibiscus kokio Hillebr. ex Wawra — red rosemallow
- Hibiscus laevis All. (=H. militaris) — halberd-leaved rosemallow (central and eastern North America)
- Hibiscus leptocladus Benth. (Northwest Australia)
- Hibiscus liliiflorus Cav. — Rodrigues tree hibiscus
- Hibiscus lunariifolius Willd.
- Hibiscus macilwraithensis (Fryxell) Craven & B.E.Pfeil (Australia)
- Hibiscus macrophyllus Roxb. ex Hornem. — largeleaf rosemallow
- Hibiscus macropodus Wagner & Vierh.
- Hibiscus makinoi Jôtani & H.Ohba — Okinawan hibiscus
- Hibiscus malacophyllus Balf.f. (Yemen)
- Hibiscus martianus Zucc. — heartleaf rosemallow
- Hibiscus mesnyi Pierre ex Laness. (Vietnam endemic)
- Hibiscus moscheutos L. — crimsoneyed rosemallow (Central and Eastern North America)
- Hibiscus moscheutos subsp. lasiocarpos (Cav.) O.J.Blanch. (synonym H. lasiocarpos Cav.) — woolly rosemallow
- Hibiscus mutabilis L. — cotton rosemallow, Confederate rose (East Asia)
- Hibiscus paramutabilis L.H.Bailey
- Hibiscus phoeniceus Jacq. — Brazilian rosemallow
- Hibiscus platanifolius (Willd.) Sweet
- Hibiscus poeppigii (Spreng.) Garcke — Poeppig's rosemallow
- Hibiscus pusillus Thunb. – bladderweed
- Hibiscus quattenensis A.G.Mill. & Thulin
- Hibiscus radiatus — monarch rosemallow
- Hibiscus × rosa-sinensis L. — Chinese hibiscus, a pre-colonial Polynesian hybrid of Hibiscus kaute (French Polynesia) and Hibiscus cooperi (Vanuatu)
- Hibiscus schizopetalus (Mast.) Hook.f. — fringed rosemallow
- Hibiscus scottii Balf.f.
- Hibiscus sinosyriacus L.H.Bailey
- Hibiscus socotranus G.Ll.Lucas
- Hibiscus splendens C.Fraser ex Graham
- Hibiscus stenanthus Balf.f. (Yemen)
- Hibiscus striatus Cav. — striped rosemallow
- Hibiscus sturtii Hook. (Australia)
- Hibiscus syriacus L. (type species) — rose of Sharon (Asia)
- Hibiscus taiwanensis S.Y.Hu
- Hibiscus tiliaceus L. — sea hibiscus (Australia, Southeast Asia, Oceania)
- Hibiscus tozerensis (Australia)
- Hibiscus trilobus Aubl. — threelobe rosemallow
- Hibiscus trionum L. — flower-of-an-hour
- Hibiscus vitifolius L. — tropical rose mallow
- Hibiscus waimeae A.Heller — koki'o ke'oke'o (Hawaii)
Formerly placed in the genus
- Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (as H. esculentus L.)
- Abelmoschus ficulneus (L.) Wight & Arn. (as H. ficulneus L.)
- Abelmoschus manihot subsp. manihot (as H. manihot L.)
- Abelmoschus manihot var. pungens (Roxb.) Hochr. (as H. pungens Roxb.)
- Abelmoschus manihot var. tetraphyllus (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Borss. Waalk. (as H. tetraphyllus Roxb. ex Hornem.)
- Abelmoschus moschatus subsp. moschatus (as H. abelmoschus L.)
- Abelmoschus moschatus subsp. tuberosus (Span.) Borss. Waalk. (as H. sagittifolius Kurz)
- Alyogyne cuneiformis (DC.) Lewton (as H. cuneiformis DC.)
- Alyogyne hakeifolia (Giord.) Alef. (as H. hakeifolius Giord.)
- Alyogyne huegelii (Endl.) Fryxell (as H. wrayae Lindl.)
- Alyogyne pinoniana (Gaudich.) Fryxell (as H. pinonianus Gaudich.)
- Astrohibiscus caesius (Garcke) McLay & R.L.Barrett (as H. caesius Garcke) — dark-eyed hibiscus (southwestern Tanzania to South Africa)
- Blanchardia clypeata (L.) M.M.Hanes & R.L.Barrett (as H. clypeatus L.) — Congo mahoe
- Bombycidendron campylosiphon (Turcz.) Warb. (as Hibiscus campylosiphon Turcz.)
- Cravenia panduriformis (Burm.f.) McLay & R.L.Barrett (as H. panduriformis Burm.f.)
- Firmiana simplex (L.) W.Wight (as H. simplex L.)
- Lagunaria patersonia subsp. patersonia (as H. patersonius Andrews)
- Kosteletzkya adoensis (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Mast. (as H. adoensis Hochst. ex A.Rich.)
- Kosteletzkya pentacarpos (L.) Ledeb. (as H. pentacarpos L.)
- Kosteletzkya tubiflora (DC.) Blanch. & McVaugh (as H. tubiflorus DC.)
- Kosteletzkya virginica (L.) C.Presl ex A.Gray (as H. virginicus L.)
- Pavonia arabica Hochst. & Steud. ex Boiss. (as H. flavus Forssk.)
- Pavonia spinifex (L.) Cav. (as H. spinifex L.)
- Radyera farragei (F.Muell.) Fryxell & S.H.Hashmi (as H. farragei F.Muell.)
- Sabdariffa gossypiifolia (Mill.) M.M.Hanes & R.L.Barrett (as H. sabdariffa L.) — roselle, omutete, or sorrel
- Thespesia lampas (Cav.) Dalzell (as H. lampas Cav.)
- Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol. ex Corrêa (as H. populneoides Roxb. or H. populneus L.)
Uses
Landscaping
Hibiscus species are grown for their showy flowers or used as landscape shrubs, and are used to attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
Rope and construction
The ropes on the missionary ship Messenger of Peace were made of fibres from hibiscus trees.
Food
Dried hibiscus is edible, and it is often a delicacy in Mexico. It can also be candied and used as a garnish, usually for desserts. Contrary to popular assumptions that the flowers or petals are what is being eaten, it is the calyces. Hibiscus sabdariffa, also known as "Jamaica" or roselle, is the species of hibiscus used to make herbal tea. Since it is sour, it is often mixed with honey, sugar, or cinnamon.
Folk medicine
Hibiscus × rosa-sinensis is described as having a number of medical uses in Indian Ayurveda.
Precautions and contraindications
Pregnancy and lactation
While the mechanism is not well understood, previous animal studies have demonstrated anti-fertility effects of H. × rosa-sinensis. The H. × rosa-sinensis extract has exhibited contraceptive effects in the form of estrogen activity in rats. These findings have not been observed in humans. The H. × rosa-sinensis is also thought to have emmenagogue effects which can stimulate menstruation and, in some women, cause an abortion. Due to the documented adverse effects in animal studies and the reported pharmacological properties, the H. × rosa-sinensis are not recommended for use during pregnancy.
Symbolism and culture
The red hibiscus is the flower of the Hindu goddess Kali, and appears frequently in depictions of her in the art of Bengal, India, often with the goddess and the flower merging in form. The hibiscus is used as an offering to Kali and the god Ganesha in Hindu worship.
The pink hibiscus flower has its origins in Asia and the Pacific Islands, where it has served as a symbol of beauty, femininity, and young love. It is commonly associated with the Hawaiian culture and the Aloha spirit, which celebrates love, happiness, and peace.
As a national and state symbol
The hibiscus is a national symbol of Haiti, and the national flower of nations including the Solomon Islands and Niue. Hibiscus syriacus is the national flower of South Korea, and Hibiscus × rosa-sinensis is the national flower of Malaysia.