What is a Hibiscus?
A member of the malva (malvaceae) family which includes okra Hibiscus rosa- sinensis is the most popular of the species, other popular species include H. moscheutos (Southern Belle) and H. syriacus H. rosa-sinensis has been cultivated for hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of years. Grown in China as an ornamental flower, there are reports from early explorers of them growing around temples. The potent red flower gained popularity and was introduced into such areas as London , Europe, India and of course, Hawaii . Early hybridizers began crossing this new arrival with the three species native to Hawaii and soon began to cross these results with 33 species imported from other countries. The results so impassioned the Hawaiians that in 1923 they passed a law making the flower the symbol of the territory of Hawaii Did you know that a hibiscus flower worn over the right ear indicates you are single and looking for a mate? Worn over the left ear indicates you are married.
A hibiscus is a plant in the genus Hibiscus. There are a huge number of species in this genus, from dwarf herbaceous shrubs to towering trees, and these plants grow in many regions of the world. Hibiscus is often welcome in the garden because it has very large, showy flowers which come in an array of colors, and the plants sometimes also have a very delicate, pleasant scent which can be very enjoyable when a large cluster of plants is massed together. Many garden supply stores carry hibiscus plants. Plants in this genus can be divided into tropical and hardy cultivars. Tropical hibiscus are native to the tropics, which means that they need to be grown in very warm climates such as those found in USDA zones 10 and 11. These hibiscus plants need lots of sun, a fair amount of humidity, and moist soil to thrive. While they can be grown indoors in cooler regions of the world with adequate climate control, they can be difficult to manage for gardeners who do not live in the tropics. Hardy hi
Hibiscus belong to the Malvaceae, or mallow family. There are over 100 genera and 1,500 species in the mallow family, including rose of Sharon, okra, cotton, the Confederate Rose, hollyhock and, of course, hibiscus. While cold temperatures will kill tropical hibiscus, there are hardy hibiscus that will die back to the ground after a hard freeze; however, their roots are hardy in our climate and they will come back the next spring. So which do you have? Tropical hibiscus always have shiny green leaves and 3- to 6-inch blooms with colors that range from red to pink to orange to salmon or even yellow. On the other hand, if the leaves are dull, medium green and heart-shaped, and the blooms are dinner-plate size, white, red, or pink, with huge buds, it is a hardy, perennial hibiscus. Hardy hibiscus require very little care over the winter. But if you have the tropical type you must bring it indoors before the first frost if you want to keep it for next summer. Of course, you could treat it
What is a hibiscus? According to www.webster-dictionary.org there are about 200 species of the genus Hibiscus, and H. rosa-sinensis, the Tropical Hibiscus or Rose of China, is the particular species we cultivate and loosely call hibiscus (actually hibiscus means any plant belonging to the genus Hibiscus). The genus Hibiscus belongs to the family Malvaceae, which belongs to the order Malvales, which belongs to the class Magnoliopsida, which belongs to the division Magnoliophyta of the plant kingdom. Now you know National Tree of Jamaica The Blue Mahoe (H. elatus) The Blue Mahoe is the national tree of Jamaica. It is indigenous to the island and grows quite rapidly, often attaining 20m (66ft) or more in height. In wetter districts it will grow in a wide range of elevations, up to 1200m (4000 ft.) and is often used in reforestation. The tree is quite attractive with its straight trunk, broad green leaves and hibiscus-like flowers. The attractive flower changes colour as it matures, going
