What kind of woody plant is the Chinese lantern hibiscus?

Other names for the Chinese lantern hibiscus

The Chinese lantern hibiscus is also called split-petal hibiscus, coral hibiscus, windbell hibiscus, Chinese lantern flower, lantern flower, and false Tibetan safflower.

Origin of the Chinese lantern hibiscus

The Chinese lantern hibiscus is native to tropical East Africa and is a common ornamental garden plant in tropical countries; it is also cultivated in Taiwan, China, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan.

Morphological characteristics of the Chinese lantern hibiscus

The Chinese lantern hibiscus is an evergreen upright shrub about 3 m tall; its branches are rather slender and often drooping, with a fairly smooth surface and no hairs.

The leaves of the Chinese lantern hibiscus are elliptical or oblong, about 4-7 cm long and 1.5-4 cm wide, with a short pointed tip and a blunt or broadly wedge-shaped base; the leaf margins are toothed and irregular, and both sides of the leaf are hairless.

The leaf stalk of the Chinese lantern hibiscus is 1-2 cm long and covered with hairs; the stipules are awl-shaped, about 2 mm long, and usually fall early.

The flowers of the Chinese lantern hibiscus are borne singly in the leaf axils at the tips of the branches; the flower stalk is rather slender and drooping, about 8-14 cm long, smooth and hairless; the flower bud has 5 parts, very small, lanceolate, 1-2 mm long; the calyx is tubular, about 1.5 cm long, densely covered with fine hairs, and often splits open on one side.

The flower of the Chinese lantern hibiscus has 5 petals, red, about 5 cm long, deeply and finely split into a fringe-like shape and curved backward upward; the staminal column is long and rather prominent, drooping, about 10 cm long, hairless; the flowering period is year-round.

The capsule is long cylindrical, about 4 cm long and about 1 cm in diameter.

Main value of the Chinese lantern hibiscus

The Chinese lantern hibiscus is an ornamental flowering shrub with fairly large flowers, rather bright colors, and a long flowering period.

In the south, the Chinese lantern hibiscus is often planted beside ponds, in front of courtyards, along roadsides and by walls, blooming continuously all year round and looking very festive.

In the Yangtze River basin and northern regions, the Chinese lantern hibiscus is grown on balconies or in courtyards; under conditions of sufficient light, the ornamental period is also extended, so it is one of the main potted plants displayed in public places in summer and autumn.