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Chinese hibiscus

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis · Family Malvaceae

Also known as: hibiscus, rose of China, tropical hibiscus

Chinese hibiscus
Photo: Andy / Andrew Fogg from near Cambridge, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Light
Full sun
Watering
Every 3 days
Difficulty
Moderate
Pet-safe
Yes

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Care

Where to put it

A sunny conservatory or south-facing window; a sheltered patio in summer.

Light

Needs full sun to keep producing its large flowers.

Watering

Keep the compost evenly moist, especially in summer. Dry roots cause bud drop.

About the plant

A shrub with large, showy flowers in red, pink, yellow, orange or white. Each flower is short-lived, but the plant produces buds in succession when well looked after. In a pot it reaches 1 to 2 metres.

Origin

Probably originating in East Asia, it has been grown for centuries in tropical regions worldwide.

What it likes

  • Several hours of full sun
  • Frequent watering in hot weather
  • Regular feeding while flowering

What it dislikes

  • Cold below 10 °C
  • Compost dry for long periods
  • Low light

Did you know?

Each flower usually lasts just one day, and the hibiscus is the national flower of Malaysia.

Listed in

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