Chinese Pink Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

A little history

A venerable plant, the hibiscus has origins that go back as far as High Antiquity (3300 to 525 BC). It is quite impressive that a plant has such a long history. Hibiscus is known to have been cultivated in Egypt and also in the Southeast Asian region. Could this be the hibiscus flower that we often see represented in Egyptian hieroglyphics?

Over the millennia, the hibiscus has had time to travel around the planet and, today, it can be found almost everywhere. It is where conditions allow it to grow naturally. If this is not the case, it is produced in nurseries and marketed by plant sellers.

It is notably the national emblem of South Korea, Hawaii and also Malaysia and we see it represented almost everywhere whenever there is talk of the tropics, heat and exoticism. And for good reason! The hibiscus, which is called Daughter of the Islands in some places, comes from tropical, warm and sunny regions, where it grows naturally as a bushy shrub that can reach a height and width of a few meters.

Hibiscus rosa sinensis

There are different species of hibiscus (at least 200) and hundreds of varieties. The Hibiscus rosa-sinensis , or Chinese Rose, which will be discussed here, is probably the best known. It would have been imported to Europe from China and this is what would have given it its name.

It is part of the Malvaceae family and it exists in several varieties which are available in numerous cultivars resulting from horticultural hybridization. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is not a perennial variety in Quebec. Its hardiness zones range from 9 to 11, which corresponds to tropical or subtropical climates. That said, your plant will be very happy to spend the summer outside once the temperatures are mild.

The inflorescence

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis , when given good growing conditions, are vigorous flower producers, making them attractive. Depending on the variety, the flowers can range from 2 to 10 inches (5 to 25 cm) in diameter and are colored (red, yellow, orange, cream, apricot, lavender, chartreuse, peach, pink, purple, purple, etc.) .) They are funnel-shaped and have 5 rounded petals curved towards the peduncle. Some cultivars have slightly curly, crumpled-looking flowers, sometimes double. From the center of the flower, where there is often a colored eye, emerge a very long style and the reproductive organs which are a true work of nature. On the style, we see several stamens (male organs) with yellow anthers (containing the pollen) and, at the end of the style, are the stigmas (end parts of the female organ) which are generally the same color as the petals (although on hybridized cultivars, this is variable).

Hibiscus flowers, however magnificent they may be, are a very fleeting pleasure, because they last 24 hours, barely more for certain hybrids. So you don't have to worry about the flowers falling at the end of the day.

Below we will see some collectible cultivars, each more spectacular than the others. Some have flowers that change color throughout the day, depending on the amount of sunlight they receive. Despite the beauty of the different hybridized specimens, it is probably the one with the red flower, the original color, which is the most resistant of all.

Leaves and stems

The leaves are quite dark green and shiny. Some cultivars have variegated foliage. The leaves are elliptical, serrated, generally quite robust. The hibiscus has a woody stem, like a tree. In the trade, you can find specimens grown on stems and also specimens with braided stems.

Maintenance and advice

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis need sun. Many houseplants don't like direct sun, but they love it. This intense exposure, combined with fertilizer (for flowering) from April to September, with adequate watering, will contribute to optimal flowering.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis needs good watering as soon as the soil is dry to the touch. It will be good to keep the substrate slightly moist at all times. Under water stress, the plant will have soft leaves, which may turn yellow, and the flower buds may drop. This is why you need to think about a rich soil, capable of retention while still being draining.

It is important to have high relative humidity (ideally minimum 50%), particularly in winter in our homes, where the air becomes dry due to heating. The ambient humidity level can be increased with a humidifier. Some sources mention that misting is beneficial to achieve this, but the humidifier is better, because the microdroplets are more easily absorbed by the plants. If the air is dry, flower buds may fall and the leaves may turn yellow.

It's a good thing to take your hibiscus out in the summer when the temperature is quite mild. They will be very happy. Before it's mild enough to do so, you can give them a little stimulation to wake them up and come out of their winter rest period. We can start fertilizing them again with traditional fertilizers rich in phosphorus, but we can also give them a supply of nutrients, which will enrich the soil, make it more organic and which will facilitate the absorption of nutrients by the plant. Gaia Green's Super Fly insect droppings product is rich in essential nutrients. It can be mixed with watering water or potting soil. It helps fight fungal diseases and promotes good plant health and immunity. The slow, but easy, release of nutrients provides a rich source of chitin and beneficial soil bacteria and fungi. With the summer sun, the hibiscus should thank you.

Many people bring in their hibiscus too late in the fall and the temperature difference between inside and outside is a shock to the plants, which die back. We recommend bringing them indoors no later than the end of August.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis grow rather quickly, although hybrids grow a little slower. If they become bald or too large, they can be pruned. You should keep in mind that, as the flowers are at the end of the branches, pruning will delay flowering. A tip borrowed from Larry Hodgson, the Lazy Gardener, is to prune gradually rather than cutting everything at once. He therefore advises, if your growing conditions are good, to get into the habit of pruning a branch or two to two thirds every three months. This would be a way to ensure that there are always mature branches to produce flowers while rejuvenating the plant. 

Pests

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis are unfortunately quite popular with certain harmful biting-sucking insects, which feed on their sap.

It is not uncommon to see colonies of aphids invade them, particularly grouped on the flower buds, because they like the more tender parts. One way to get rid of aphids is to cut off the most affected parts, run the stems under a good stream of water to dislodge as many individuals as possible and then apply a treatment. It only takes one aphid remaining on the plant for the infestation to resume. They reproduce very quickly.

Hibiscus can sometimes be attacked by whiteflies (small white flies), which often gather under the leaves. A good way to fight whiteflies mechanically is to vacuum them up with the sweeper. Then, it is good to carry out treatment to prevent individuals remaining who could reproduce.

In winter, in homes where the relative humidity is often very low due to heating, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis are often the target of spider mites (tiny mites). Showering your plant regularly, and spraying it too, could be a way to mechanically fight against spider mites, because they don't like humidity.

Mealybugs also attack Hibiscus rosa-sinensis . They like to burrow in the armpits of branches. Since they move very slowly, they look for places where they will not be disturbed. Mealybugs are a little tougher than other insects because they are covered in a protective coating that resists insecticidal soaps. The best way to get rid of them is to dislodge them, one by one, with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. It's not a bad thing to spray rubbing alcohol on the plant afterward, as they carry their eggs and babies on their bellies and sometimes the mother is killed, but the babies manage to escape. flee.

And thrips... one of the most difficult pests to eradicate, because it has several stages of development which take place in various places on the plant, including inside plant tissues and even in the substrate. You have to be patient to get rid of thrips and carry out treatments regularly.

Obviously, in all cases we recommend the least harmful treatments for the environment, such as insecticidal soaps and black soap for example. Ideally, regardless of the type of infestation, treat once a week for a few weeks to ensure you get rid of it. You can also try to fight pests with predatory insects that will eat them! It's quite satisfying to see them do it! However, you should not apply an insecticide treatment AND introduce predators at the same time.

For more information on Hibiscus rosa-sinensis pests and means of control, you can consult the Espace pour la vie website.

Toxicity

Hibiscus are not toxic to humans or animals. The Senegalese, Guineans, Malians, Beninese and also the Egyptians make a juice from infused dried flowers, which is absolutely delicious: bissap. “Bissap” is the name given to the variety of hibiscus used, Hibiscus sabdariffa (do not try this with your own Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ). Furthermore, hibiscus is recognized for its therapeutic virtues and used in different ways (antiseptic, diuretic, menstrual pain, cough, respiratory tract, hypertension, cholesterol, etc.). If you wish to discover it in this aspect, please consult a health professional for how to do this and also to ensure you consume the right variety of hibiscus.

Collectible hibiscus

Here are some specimens from the 'Hollywood' series, which are available at Serres Lavoie. Hibiscus in this series are renowned for having abundant flowering, good growth and good disease resistance.

We invite you to visit the website to discover the complete collection .

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Hollywood Gossip Queen'

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Hollywood Gossip Queen' has orange-yellow flowers with a center that comes in different tones of pink, ranging from darkest to palest and ending in fairly light tips that contrast on the color of the petals.

Hibiscus rosa sinensis 'Hollywood America's Sweetheart'

Hibiscus rosa sinensis 'Hollywood America's Sweetheart' has bright, pure pink flowers with a very red center. The closer you get to the edge of the petals, the more the pink fades, until it becomes almost white.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Hollywood Disco Diva'

Hibiscus rosa sinensis 'Hollywood Disco Diva ' has slightly wrinkled orange flowers approaching gold. The center of the flower is such a dark red that it is practically purple and it is surrounded by a pale pink border which makes a magnificent contrast.

Hibiscus rosa sinensis 'Hollywood Earth Angel'

Hibiscus rosa sinensis 'Hollywood Earth Angel' has soft white petals that appear to sparkle in direct sunlight. This specimen will be perfect for giving light to a colorful flowerbed or for bringing out more of the colors of other plants.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Hollywood Heartbreaker '

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Hollywood Heartbreaker' has very orange flowers. Its great particularity is that, unlike most other hibiscus which have a pink or red center, its is rather white, with a very pale pink margin.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Hollywood Pop Star'

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Hollywood Pop Star' has bright pink flowers and a purple center. The colors are very saturated and there are no gradients or pastel hues in this cultivar. The margins of the petals are slightly curled.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Hollywood Rico Suave'

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Hollywood Rico Suave' has very bright canary yellow flowers. Their center is cherry colored and has a slightly lighter pink halo. This cultivar has very dense colors and their contrast is sure to make it a real eye-catcher.

There is a wide variety of cultivars, each more spectacular than the other. Pay yourself a visit to our greenhouses to discover them!