Is Hibiscus mutabilis easy to grow? Detailed planting methods and care tips

Other names for Hibiscus mutabilis

Hibiscus mutabilis is also known as hibiscus flower, frost-rejecting flower, wood lotus, ground hibiscus, and Chinese wood, and is native to China. It is a deciduous shrub in the mallow family, genus Hibiscus.

Hibiscus mutabilis growing habits

Hibiscus mutabilis prefers a warm, humid environment with plenty of sunlight, tolerates partial shade somewhat, and has a certain degree of cold tolerance. It is not demanding 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 management is fairly 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 worry about it, as new branches will sprout 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 should be cut away to ensure good ventilation and light penetration inside the canopy. Hibiscus mutabilis can also be grown in pots. The potting soil should be loose, fertile, and well drained and aerated. During the growing season there must be enough moisture to meet its growth needs. In winter, move it indoors to overwinter, maintaining a temperature of 0 to 10°C to ensure dormancy.

Hibiscus mutabilis morphological characteristics

Hibiscus mutabilis is a deciduous shrub or small tree, over 1m tall. The branches 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 tomentum 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. The capsule is oblate and matures from 10 to 11. In colder regions, it withers in late autumn and sprouts again from the perennial root the following year. When clumping, it is only about 1m tall. Where winter temperatures are higher, it can reach 7 to 8m tall, 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 may be white, or initially pale red and later turning deep red, as well as large red double, white double, half-white half-peach double, and red-and-white mixed forms.

Complete list of Hibiscus mutabilis varieties

Common varieties of Hibiscus mutabilis

White hibiscus: bears white flowers

Pink hibiscus: flower color is pink

Red hibiscus: bright red flowers, large and double, closely resembling a peony

Yellow hibiscus: also known as huangmo, yellow flowers, bell-shaped, with a dark purple center, large and double, closely resembling a peony, a rare variety

Drunken hibiscus: also known as "three-drunk hibiscus", it opens white in the early morning, turns peach red at noon, and becomes deep red by evening, a rare and precious variety.

Application value of Hibiscus mutabilis

1. Ornamental value. Hibiscus mutabilis blooms in late autumn, has a long flowering period, blooms abundantly, and has many varieties. Its flower color and flower form vary richly with the variety, making it a very good 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 alone or in groups beside walls, along roads, and in front of halls. It is especially suitable for planting by the water; when in bloom, the shimmering water and flower reflections enhance each other's beauty, making it exceptionally charming, 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 flowering hedge, is all very suitable. In the cold north it can also be grown in pots for ornamental enjoyment.

2. Industrial use. The stem bark contains 39% cellulose. The stem bark fiber is flexible and water-resistant, and can be used as a raw material for cables and textiles, and can also be used to make paper.

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 to stop bleeding. It is used for cough due to lung heat, excessive menstruation, and leukorrhea; externally it is used to treat carbuncles, sores, and boils, mastitis, lymphadenitis, mumps, burns and scalds, venomous snake bites, and traumatic injuries. The well-known "Yulu Powder" and "Hibiscus Flower Oil" are made from the flowers and leaves of Hibiscus mutabilis.

Hibiscus mutabilis picture appreciation