What are the other names for Chinese lantern mallow? Let's take a look at its alternative names

Alternative names for Chinese lantern mallow

Because Chinese lantern mallow looks somewhat like Chinese hibiscus, it is also known as South American hibiscus and curled-petal hibiscus. In addition, Chinese lantern mallow is also called lantern fusang, dahongpao, weeping Chinese lantern mallow, small Chinese lantern mallow, and pink Chinese lantern mallow.

Morphological characteristics of Chinese lantern mallow

Chinese lantern mallow is an evergreen shrub that looks somewhat like Chinese hibiscus, but its leaves are narrower and longer, and deep green in color. Its flowers do not open fully like other hibiscus types; the bright red petals curl and twist in a spiral, forming a hanging-bell shape. The stamens and pistils are slender and protrude beyond the petals from the bud. The petals twist slightly to the left and do not open from the bud stage. The flowers are fish-red, and the leaves are broadly heart-shaped, with shallow two-lobed or angular edges. The most distinctive feature is that the flowers hang downward.

Growth habits of Chinese lantern mallow

Chinese lantern mallow prefers high temperatures, high humidity and a sunny environment. It is heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant, poor-soil-tolerant, moisture-tolerant, not tolerant of cold frost, slightly shade-tolerant, intolerant of waterlogging, and grows quickly.

Chinese lantern mallow has low requirements for soil, and grows best in fertile, loose, well-drained, slightly acidic soil.