What are the other names for Hibiscus syriacus? See all the common aliases at a glance

Other names for Hibiscus syriacus

Kapok, Vitex twig, flower that blooms in the morning and falls at dusk, morning glory

Growth habits of Hibiscus syriacus

Hibiscus syriacus is highly adaptable to its environment, relatively tolerant of dry and barren land, and not strict about soil requirements; it prefers a warmer and more humid climate. It is slightly shade-tolerant, moisture-tolerant, pruning-tolerant, heat-tolerant and cold-tolerant, and it likes warmth. However, when cultivated in northern regions it needs protective overwintering. It likes moisture but is also drought-tolerant, and it is not strict about soil requirements; it can even grow in heavy clay. It has strong sprouting ability.

Variety classification of Hibiscus syriacus

Common varieties of Hibiscus syriacus flowers include: the Korean series; the white single-center series; the red single-center series; the purple single-center series; the blue single-center series; the Asda series and the seaside series.

Common variants include:

1. White double-petaled Hibiscus syriacus. The white petals have thin purplish-red lines and small spots, and the flowers are double.

2. Glass double-petaled Hibiscus syriacus. The branches are straight, the flowers are double, and the color is sky blue.

3. Purplish-red double-petaled Hibiscus syriacus. The petals are purplish-red or with white, and the flowers are double.

4. Variegated-leaf Hibiscus syriacus. The leaves bear white spots, and the flowers are purple and double.

Uses of Hibiscus syriacus

1. Ornamental use. Hibiscus syriacus blooms in summer and autumn, has a very long flowering period, and has many variants and cultivars in flower color and flower form, making it an excellent flowering tree species for gardens. It is often used as hedging and foundation planting material, is suitable for group planting on lawns, roadsides or forest edges, and can also be used as a green hedge or planted together with other flowering trees and shrubs. Because its branches are soft and tolerant of pruning, it can be shaped into bonsai or potted plants. At the same time, it also has strong resistance, making it an excellent tree species for greening factories and mines.

2. Medicinal value. Hibiscus syriacus flowers contain saponarin, a kind of flavonoid glycoside, and also contain isovitexin. In addition, they contain saponins and mucilage. The roots contain tannins and mucilage. The seeds contain fatty oil. Hibiscus syriacus flowers clear heat and cool blood, and remove toxin and reduce swelling. They are used to treat dysentery, hemorrhoid bleeding, leukorrhea, sores, boils and carbuncles, and scalds. The roots clear heat and remove toxin, promote urination and reduce swelling, and stop coughing. They are used to treat cough, lung abscess, intestinal abscess, hemorrhoid swelling and pain, leukorrhea, and scabies. The root bark and stem bark can clear heat and drain dampness, kill insects and relieve itching. They are used to treat dysentery, prolapse, scrotal eczema, athlete's foot, and so on. The fruit is called "Chaotianzi" and can clear the lungs and resolve phlegm, and remove toxin and relieve pain. It is used to treat phlegm-induced wheezing and cough, neurotic headache, and impetigo.

Washing the face with water in which Hibiscus syriacus flowers have been boiled can beautify the complexion; washing the hair with the juice of the leaves can treat scalp ringworm, make the hair easy to comb, nourish the hair, make it naturally black and glossy, and remove dandruff. Hibiscus syriacus is also a natural detoxifying machine. If toxic substances in the air, such as sulfur dioxide, reach one part in 100,000, people cannot work for long periods; when its concentration reaches four parts in 10,000, people will die of poisoning. Yet some plants have the ability to detoxify on their own, breaking down toxic substances in their bodies and converting them into non-toxic substances, and Hibiscus syriacus is one of them, known as a "natural detoxifying machine."

3. Edible value. In the Tingzhou area of Fujian, deep-fried Hibiscus syriacus flowers are made by mixing the flowers with flour and then putting them into hot oil; the flower shape is still faintly visible, and the dish has color, aroma and taste, and is called "flour flowers," a delicacy at flower banquets. The famous Hibiscus syriacus and tofu soup of Huizhou in Anhui is made by cooking Hibiscus syriacus flowers together with tofu; it has the fragrance of the flowers, the freshness and tenderness of the tofu, and is fragrant, smooth and delicious. Preparing Hibiscus syriacus flowers as a dish is simple: they can be served cold-dressed, stir-fried or made into soup; their texture is crisp and tender, smooth and delicious, with a delicate fragrance, and they can moisten dryness and remove damp-heat, making them a natural health food.

The flower language of Hibiscus syriacus

Resilience, eternal beauty, gentle persistence.

Hibiscus syriacus flowers open in the morning and fall at dusk, but every withering is for the sake of a more splendid bloom the next time. It is like the sun constantly setting and rising again, like spring going and autumn coming as the four seasons turn, yet life goes on endlessly. It is even more like loving someone: there will be low points, there will be disturbances, but those who understand love will still persist gently. Because they understand that ups and downs are unavoidable, but nothing will make them waver in the choice they made at the beginning; the faith of love remains eternal and unchanged. Resilience, eternal beauty.

Hibiscus syriacus has strong vitality, and its flowers symbolize a character that remains firm in purpose despite enduring hardships; they also symbolize prosperity, and symbolize nostalgia and valuing affection and loyalty.