What is the Hibiscus mutabilis flower? Get to know this woody plant

Other names of the Hibiscus mutabilis flower

The Hibiscus mutabilis flower is also known as Furong flower, Frost-rejecting flower, Mujian, Earth Hibiscus, and Hua wood. It originated in China and is a deciduous shrub of the genus Hibiscus in the mallow family.

Growth habits of Hibiscus mutabilis

Hibiscus mutabilis likes a warm, humid environment with plenty of sunlight, tolerates partial shade slightly, and has a certain degree of cold resistance. It is not strict about soil, but grows best in fertile, moist, well-drained sandy soil. It can be planted in a sunny spot in the courtyard or beside a pond. Usually its management is relatively extensive; pay attention to watering during droughts, and each winter or spring dig a trench around the plant and apply some decomposed organic fertilizer, then water and cover the soil promptly after fertilizing.

In cold regions, some tender branches of plants grown in the ground may freeze to death in winter; there is no need to bother about it, as new branches will emerge after the temperature warms up in spring. Pruning is done after flowering. The tree shape can be pruned into either a tree form or a shrub form, but either way, dead branches, weak branches, and inner-canopy branches must be cut off to ensure good ventilation and light penetration inside the canopy. Hibiscus mutabilis can also be grown in pots. The potting soil should be loose and fertile with good drainage and aeration. During the growing season there must be enough water to meet its growth needs. In winter, move it indoors to overwinter, maintaining a temperature of 0 to 10°C to ensure its dormancy.

Morphological characteristics of Hibiscus mutabilis

Hibiscus mutabilis is a deciduous shrub or small tree, over 1m tall. The branches and trunk are densely covered with stellate hairs. The leaves are alternate, broadly ovate or round-ovate, palmately 3 to 5-lobed, with acute or acuminate tips, and stellate down on both sides. The flowers are large, borne singly in the leaf axils at the ends of branches, in colors such as red, pink, and white, with a flowering period from 8 to 10 months. The capsule is oblate and matures from 10 to 11 months. In colder regions, it withers in late autumn and sends out branches and buds again from the perennial roots the following year. It grows in clumps and is only about 1m tall. Where winter temperatures are higher, however, it can reach 7 to 8m in height, and some have a diameter of up to 20cm. The leaves are large, broadly ovate, 3 to 5-lobed, with triangular lobes, a heart-shaped base, bluntly serrate leaf margins, and hairs on both sides. The flowers are borne singly in the leaf axils at the ends of branches, and there are white ones, ones that are pale red at first and later turn deep red, as well as large red double-petaled, white double-petaled, half-white half-peach-red double-petaled, and red-and-white mixed ones.

Complete collection of Hibiscus mutabilis varieties

Common varieties of Hibiscus mutabilis

White Hibiscus: bears white flowers

Pink Hibiscus: flower color pink

Red Hibiscus: large red flowers, large double-petaled, closely resembling a peony

Yellow Hibiscus: also known as Yellow Mo, yellow flowers, bell-shaped, with a dark purple flower center, large double-petaled, closely resembling a peony, a rare variety

Drunk Hibiscus: also known as "Three-drunk Hibiscus", it opens white flowers in the early morning, turns peach-red at noon, and then turns deep red in the evening, a rare and precious variety.

Application value of the Hibiscus mutabilis flower

1. Ornamental value. Hibiscus mutabilis blooms in late autumn, has a long flowering period and vigorous bloom, and comes in many varieties; its flower color and flower shape vary richly with the variety, making it a very good ornamental flowering tree species. Because the flowers are large and brightly colored, it has been planted in gardens in China since ancient times and can be planted as a solitary specimen or in groups by walls, roadsides, in front of halls, and other places. It is especially suitable for planting beside water; when in bloom, the shimmering waves and flower reflections set each other off and become even more beautiful, exceptionally enchanting, hence the name "water-reflecting Hibiscus". In addition, planting it in courtyards, on slopes, along roadsides, at forest edges, and in front of buildings, or growing it as a flower hedge, is very suitable. In the cold north it can also be grown in pots for ornament.

2. Industrial use. The stem bark contains 39% cellulose; the stem bark fiber is tough and water-resistant, and can be used as a raw material for cables and textiles, and can also be used for papermaking.

3. Medicinal value. The flowers, leaves, and roots of Hibiscus mutabilis are rich in medicinal components such as flavonoids, hyperoside, inulin glycosides, phenols, and reducing sugars, and all can be used as medicine. It can clear heat and detoxify, reduce swelling and discharge pus, and cool the blood and stop bleeding. It is used for lung-heat cough, excessive menstruation, and leukorrhea; externally it treats carbuncles, swellings, and boils, mastitis, lymphadenitis, mumps, burns and scalds, venomous snake bites, and bruises. The famous "Yulu Powder" and "Hibiscus Flower Oil" are made from the flowers and leaves of Hibiscus mutabilis.

Appreciation of Hibiscus mutabilis flower pictures