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In the Gardens

Chinese Hibiscus, Rose of China

Hibiscus rosa sinensis

Bloom time

All year round.

Characteristics

The shrub is 1-3 m (3,3-10‘) tall and develops a dense net of branches. The leaves are heart-shaped and serrated. The blossoms consist of five petals that form a funnel with up to 10 cm (4‘‘) width. Colours range from red and pink trough white to orange and yellow. The pistil pro-trudes far out of the bloom.

Site:

On Madeira you will find this shrub in parks and gardens up to an altitude of 400 m (440 yd.). For its dense growth it is often used for cultivating hedges. The hardy Rose of Sha-ron (Hibiscus syriacus) is a rare relative with smaller, pink flowers and very upright twigs.

Interesting to know:

The Chinese Hibiscus is one of the most popu-lar ornamental shrubs. In its native habitat in South East Asia it has already been cultivated for a long time. Female Asians used to colour their hair and eyebrows with the sap. The wild species has shining red blossoms, cultivars may have flowers in varying colours, stuffed or enlarged blossoms and speckled leaves. The blossoms are extremely short living but the abundant development of buds makes up for the fact that each flower will only last one day.

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