Chinese hibiscus
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.
Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is a mallow-family shrub; its large five-petalled red, pink or yellow flowers have a long staminal column; grown as an ornamental and hedge; flowers and leaves used in folk medicine.
No ratings yet — be the first!
Gallery
Chinese hibiscus — White flowerChinese hibiscus — Plant
Chinese hibiscus — Leaf
Chinese hibiscus — Flower
Chinese hibiscus — Red flower
Chinese hibiscus — Stamens & stigmaChinese hibiscus — White flowerChinese hibiscus — PlantOverview
Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), also called rose of China or shoeblackplant, is an evergreen shrub of the mallow family (Malvaceae) native to tropical Asia. It grows 1–3 m tall, much branched, with alternate ovate toothed leaves 4–12 cm long that are glossy above. The flowers grow singly at the leaf axils, 5–10 cm across, with five large petals in red, pink, yellow or white depending on the cultivar; most characteristic is the long protruding staminal column bearing anthers and a branched stigma. The flowers usually open by day and last about a day. The fruit is a spherical capsule splitting into five valves with many seeds, but cultivated plants often set little fruit. Chinese hibiscus likes full sun and loose, well-drained soil, is propagated mainly by cuttings or grafting, and flowers almost year-round. It is one of the most popular ornamental plants of the tropics; in Vietnam it is grown as hedges and ornamentals throughout the country.
Life cycle
From seed to productPlant
https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Hibiscus_rosa-sinensis_plant.jpg/1920px-Hibiscus_rosa-sinensis_plant.jpg
Leaf
https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Hibiscus_rosa-sinensis_leaf.jpg/1920px-Hibiscus_rosa-sinensis_leaf.jpg
Flower
https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Chinese_hibiscus_%28Hibiscus_%C3%97_rosa-sinensis%29_flower%2C_Estufa_Fria%2C_Lisbon%2C_Portugal_julesvernex2.jpg/1920px-Chinese_hibiscus_%28Hibiscus_%C3%97_rosa-sinensis%29_flower%2C_Estufa_Fria%2C_Lisbon%2C_Portugal_julesvernex2.jpg
Stamens & stigma
https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Hibiscus_rosa-sinensis_%27Brilliant%27_stigmas_and_stamens_in_private_Austrian_garden_on_2014-09-20.png/1920px-Hibiscus_rosa-sinensis_%27Brilliant%27_stigmas_and_stamens_in_private_Austrian_garden_on_2014-09-20.png
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- China & East Asia30%
- India & South Asia25%
- Southeast Asia20%
- Oceania & Pacific15%
- Central America & Caribbean10%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- Water88%
- Carbohydrates8%
- Protein1.5%
- Fibre1%
- Minerals (ash)1%
- Others0.5%
Uses
- Ornamental: widely grown as a garden plant, hedge and potted ornamental in the tropics
- Folk medicine: flowers and leaves as a laxative and diuretic; crushed flowers as a poultice for boils; a flower decoction for menstrual disorders
- Everyday: in India the flowers are used to blacken shoes and adorn hair; flowers are edible in salads
- Ecology & other: nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies; grown as a small shade and indicator plant
Properties
- Form
- Shrub
- Flower
- Five petals, many colours
- Hallmark
- Long staminal column
- Uses
- Ornamental, hedge; medicinal
Habitat & conservation
Chinese hibiscus is native to tropical Asia (possibly China or India) and is widely grown throughout the tropics and subtropics. It likes full sun and loose, well-drained soil and is propagated by cuttings or grafting. It flowers almost year-round. In Vietnam it is commonly grown as hedges and ornamentals in all provinces.
Conservation
A widely cultivated tropical species, not yet assessed by IUCN (NE). Mallow family (Malvaceae), genus Hibiscus.
References
- 1Plants of the World Online — Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. — Kew Science, 2026
- 2Chinese hibiscus — mô tả, trồng trọt, sử dụng — Wikipedia tiếng Anh, 2026
- 3Dâm bụt — đặc điểm, công dụng — Wikipedia tiếng Việt, 2026
- 4朱槿 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis — 形態、用途 — Wikipedia tiếng Trung, 2026
- 5Nguồn ảnh: Manojkumar Subramani (CC BY-SA 4.0) / Gazal world (CC BY-SA 4.0) / Jules Verne Times Two (CC BY-SA 4.0) — Wikimedia Commons,
- 6Nguồn ảnh: Robert F. Tobler (CC BY-SA 4.0) / Livioandronico2013 (CC BY-SA 4.0) — Wikimedia Commons,