Hibiscus

Hibiscus, a plant with colorful flowers, has been used for centuries for decorative and medicinal purposes. People have used it to make extracts, teas, and supplements. In traditional medicine, people use hibiscus preparations to treat ailments such as liver problems and high blood pressure. Today, a growing body of research supports these benefits, among others ( This article reviews the nutrients and compounds in hibiscus, possible benefits of the plant, and downsides to consider. Hibiscus, also known as Hibiscus sabdariffa or roselle, is a type of flowering plant native to India and Malaysia ( There are hundreds of types of hibiscus, including herbs, shrubs, and trees. The most commonly cultivated type is Hibiscus sabdariffa, a shrub marked by red stems and wide yellow flowers that turn pink and red ( Hibiscus grows in tropical and subtropical regions, including China, Thailand, Sudan, Nigeria, and Mexico. The flowers, seeds, leaves, and stems are all used for culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal preparations ( One of the most common preparations is hibiscus tea, a deep red In addition to teas, you can purchase hibiscus powders, capsules, and liquid extracts. Depending on the product, these can be made from different parts of the plant. In folk and traditional medicines, hibiscus is used to lower blood pressure, stimulate diuretic effects, reduce high cholesterol, and more. The abundance of bioactive compounds in hibiscus is thought to contribute to its health benefits ( S...

With huge, dinner-plate colorful flowers, perennial hibiscus plants add a bold, tropical effect to the garden.They are also highly attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds!Here’s how to plant, grow, and care for hibiscusflowers. AboutHibiscus There are many types of hibiscus. This growing guide covers perennial hibiscus grown for theirstrikingly-beautiful, big, disc-shaped, hollyhock-like flowers that can measure up to 12 inchesacross! Perennial hibiscus can grow up to eight feet tall, but there are also dwarf varieties of only two to three feettall. When to PlantHibiscus Hibiscus can be purchased as young plants from nurseries and are best planted in the spring. Or, they can be rooted from a cutting in thespring. If you wish to grow hibiscus from seed, sow indoors 12 weeks before the last spring Choosing and Preparing a PlantingSite • Choose a site that gets full sun; they’ll grow in partial sun but will not flower aswell. • Hibiscus prefer well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter, and • To avoid breakage of the long stems, plant hibiscus where they won’t beexposed to strongwinds. How to PlantHibiscus • Plant potted hibiscus plants so that their stems are just at the soilsurface. • To root a cutting in the spring, cut off a branch that is 5 to 6 inches long and strip off lower leaves. Plantcutting in a pot with a mix of three parts sand and one part peat. Roots should form within a few weeks. Transplant them from the pot intoground. • The hibiscus species that d...

If you crave a taste of the tropics in your northern climate, try your hand at growing a hardy hibiscus plant full of huge, showy flowers. Native to North America, the oversized flowers feature tissue-thin, ruffled petals in shades of pink, red, magenta, and white. Some varietals produce blooms with dark-colored centers. Hardy hibiscus can be planted in spring when there is no risk of frost. The plants will grow quickly, erupting each summer with blooms the size of dinner plates. In addition to adding color to your summer garden, hardy hibiscus blooms attract hummingbirds, dragonflies, and butterflies. While each bloom lasts only a day or two, they are quickly replaced by new blooms. You might be tempted to cut a bouquet, but don't—hibiscus blooms are better-suited in the landscape than being cut and placed in a vase, where they'll last only a day or so. The term "hardy hibiscus" generally refers to cultivars of Hibiscus moscheutos that are bred to tolerate colder temperatures than most Hibiscus species, most of which are tropical species. These cold-hardy varieties are also known as "perennial hibiscus." Most hardy hibiscus will reliably tolerate temperatures as far north as zone 5, but even zone 4 gardeners may be able to find varieties suitable for their growing conditions. Common Name Hardy hibiscus, rose mallow, swamp rose mallow Botanical Name Hibiscus moscheutos Family Malvaceae Plant Type Herbaceous perennial Mature Size 3–7 ft. tall, 2–4 ft. wide Sun Exposure Full...

Hibiscus. A flower quite like no other. Appearing in all her glory in the morning, and then fading as the evening sun casts long shadows amongst the trees. I remember this flower well, from my childhood home, a bougainvillea-clad house on the coast of East Africa, with fragrant frangipani and the bright red of the hibiscus. My mother was a keen gardener, tending tropical native flowers with an artist’s flair, getting just the right balance between “wild and free,” and “tame and homely.” In the rocky soil of the ancient coral cliffs on which our house was built, desert roses bloomed beneath a large, imposing baobab tree. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission . At the back of our house, we had a lush mango tree, replete with delicious fruit, which as children we would have to grab before the monkeys had their fill. But my favorite flower was always the hibiscus, billowing gently in the soft sea air. That vivid red, fading slightly towards the edges with a dark center, and the strange, long staminal column with fuzzy yellow pollen at the end always had me enthralled. Living now in what I would describe as the “frozen south”– anything other than the tropics feels cold to me – I had no idea that it was possible to add my childhood favorite to the garden. Turns out, it is. Several hundred different species of the genus Hibiscus exist, and thanks to the work of many dedicated hybridizers, stunning cultiva...

Hibiscus is high in antioxidants and offers many potential benefits. In particular, it may help promote weight loss, reduce the growth of bacteria and cancer cells, and support the health of the heart and liver. Hibiscus is available as an extract or, more often, a tea. Hibiscus tea is an herbal tea that’s made by steeping parts of the hibiscus plant in boiling water. It has a tart flavor similar to that of cranberries and can be enjoyed either hot or cold. There are several hundred species of hibiscus, varying by the location and climate they grow in, but Hibiscus sabdariffa is most commonly used to make hibiscus tea ( Research has uncovered a range of health benefits linked to drinking hibiscus tea, showing that it may lower blood pressure, reduce the growth of bacteria, and even aid weight loss. This article reviews 8 benefits of hibiscus. Share on Pinterest Image credit: Stocktr/Shutterstock Antioxidants are molecules that help protect against compounds called free radicals, which can damage your cells ( Hibiscus is rich in powerful antioxidants and may therefore help prevent damage and disease caused by the buildup of free radicals. One study in people with Marfan syndrome, a disorder that affects connective tissue, found that an infusion of hibiscus extract reduced oxidative stress and increased antioxidant levels in the blood ( An animal study had similar findings, showing that hibiscus extract helped protect against cell damage in rats ( However, these studies used...

Hibiscus is very popular a genus of flowering plants. There are hundreds of hibiscus species that can be trees or shrubs and annuals or perennials, most of which are tropical or subtropical. There are 35 North American native hibiscus species also called rose mallows. The type of hibiscus used most commonly in landscaping and found in garden centers is Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. This native Chinese species grows in tropical conditions but can be grown indoors in containers or as an annual outdoors. The hibiscus flower is large, striking, and trumpet-shaped and comes in a range of bright colors. Each flower only lasts for one day, but the plant has a long flowering season. The flowers of some types of hibiscus are truly enormous, measuring up to a foot (30 cm) in diameter. Quick Facts about Hibiscus • Botanical name: Hibiscus spp. • Height: 4 to 8 feet (1.2 to 3.0 m) • Spread: 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m) • Sun exposure: Full sun • Soil requirements: Acidic, moist, rich • Hardiness zones: 9 to 11 • When to plant: Spring Growing Hibiscus in Containers You can easily grow a Although warm, humid conditions are ideal for tropical hibiscus, you may want to provide outdoor plants with a little afternoon shade when it’s overly hot. Again, containers make this easy to do. Hibiscus plants prefer a cozy fit when growing in a container. This means that they should be slightly root bound in the pot. When you do decide to repot, give the hibiscus only a little bit more room. Always make sure...