Scientific/Botanical Name:
Genus: Hibiscus
Specie: H. rosa-sinensis
Variety/Cultivar:
English Name:
Common Name:
Chinese hibiscus, China rose and shoe flower
Botanical Family:
Name in Latin: Malvaceae
Name in English: Mallow Family
The Plant
Origin: East Asia
Growth Habit: evergreen flowering shrub
Flower: flowers are large, generally red in the original varieties, and firm, but generally lack any scent. Numerous varieties, cultivars, and hybrids are available, with flower colors ranging from white through yellow and orange to scarlet and shades of pink, with both single and double sets of petals
Blooming Period: Blooms Year Round
Leaf: Heavy Textured, Shiny, Thick Foliation, Dark Green, Large Size. Ovate, Crenate, Obtuse.
Usage:
These tropical plants are well suited to be grown indoors.
Care and Handling
Soil: Hibiscus want loamy but not too heavy soil
Amount of water: Hibiscus like water but do not let it stand with 'wet feet'. The soil needs to dry up between waterings to protect from root rot.
Nutrition: For prolific flowering, hibiscus must have regular feedings every week during the growth period, March-October. Water soluble formulas can be used with every watering. Choose a fertilizer with a low phosphorous value- 20 5 20
Special handling: The best time for pruning hibiscus is August-October
Special feature/remarks:
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the national flower of Malaysia, called Bunga Raya in Malay.