Tropical shrub with large open trumpet flowers in red, pink, yellow, orange, or white, each lasting a single day. Among the most widely grown tropical garden shrubs and the floral emblem of several tropical nations.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 9–12 | −6.7 °C to 15.6 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H2 | 1 °C to 5 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 9 | −1 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 4–7 | 0 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Plant in mild-climate gardens as the dominant flowering shrub — flowers more or less continuously in warm humid conditions
- Edible flowers and young leaves — flowers are mildly sweet and used in tropical Pacific and Caribbean salads and as a tea, leaves used as a vegetable in some West African cuisines
- Distinct from roselle (H. sabdariffa, also in this batch) and from kenaf (H. cannabinus, already in the database from batch 7)
- Frost-tender — succeeds outdoors only in zone 9 and warmer, otherwise grown as a container plant under glass
- Not reliably hardy outdoors in Canada — Canadian zone values shown represent the system maximum and do not imply garden cultivation north of the warmest coastal pockets.
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Chinese hibiscus (Hawaiian hibiscus) against your zones