China rose (Hibiscus rosa sinensis) – Flowering plants

China rose is an evergreen shrub or small tree 8–16 ft. It can grow up to 8–16 ft tall and 5–10 ft wide. It has upright branches densely covered with glossy, dark-green ovate leaves. The blooms are 10 to 20 cm wide and have a whorl of 5 egg-shaped, toothed or smooth-edged petals that are fused at the base to the central column. The central staminal column is tipped with a 5-lobed style above multiple yellow anthers near the tip of the column. The wild-type plants have single, red flowers, but the cultivated varieties can have single or double flowers in a wide variety of colors ranging from white through yellow and orange to scarlet and shades of pink.

Scientific classification:

Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Hibiscus
Species: H. rosa-sinensis

Scientific Name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Synonyms: Hibiscus arnottii Griff. ex Mast., Hibiscus boryanus DC., Hibiscus cooperi auct., Hibiscus festalis Salisb., Hibiscus liliiflorus Griff. ex Mast., Hibiscus rosiflorus Stokes, Hibiscus storckii Seem.
Common Name: China Rose, Chinese hibiscus, Hawaiian hibiscus, Rose mallow, Shoeblackplant, Hindi: Gurhal , Manipuri: Juba kusum athonba, Kannada: DasavaLa, Malayalam: Chemparati, Tamil: cembarutti, Marathi: Jaswand, Konkani: Dosni Phool.

How to grow and maintain China rose (Hibiscus rosa sinensis):

Light:
It thrives best in bright light with some direct sunlight. Growing hibiscus in a sunny spot outdoors for the summer will give it more blooming power. Just be sure to bring it back inside before the temperature drops to 50°F/10°C at night.

Soil:
It grows best in well-drained, humus-rich, fertile soil. You can use an all-purpose mix and add a little perlite.

Water:
Water regularly and allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. Put it in a pot with drainage holes to prevent soggy soil.

Humidity:
It prefers moderate humidity. If relative humidity falls below 50%, mist the foliage and place the pot on a tray of wet pebbles.

Temperature:
It prefers average to warm temperature 65°F-85°F / 18°C-29°C during the growing season and 60°F/16°C in winter.

Fertilizer:
Fertilize every two weeks with a low-phosphorus liquid fertilizer, such as 7-2-7, diluted by half while the plant is growing and flowering.

Propagation:
It can be easily propagated by stem cuttings. Take 8 cm stem tip cuttings in spring or early summer. Growing hibiscus from cuttings can take several weeks.

Pests and Diseases:
It has no serious insect or disease problems. Watch for aphids, mealybugs, scale insects and powdery mildew.

Benefits of China rose (Hibiscus rosa sinensis):

• The blossoms are edible either raw or cooked. The flowers will not wilt until evening, so they can also be used as a long-lasting food garnish.
• The blossoms are aphrodisiac, demulcent, emmenagogue, emollient and refrigerant. They are used internally in the treatment of excessive and painful menstruation, cystitis, venereal diseases, feverish illnesses, bronchial catarrh, coughs and to promote hair growth.
• The leaves and blossoms are beaten into a paste and poulticed onto cancerous swellings and mumps. The blooms are used in the treatment of carbuncles, mumps, fever, and sores.
• The juice from the petals is utilized in China as shoe-blacking and black mascara.