Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Sp. Pl.: 694 (1753))

Family: Malvaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 694 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Hibiscus

Vegetable: False

Observations: Vanuatu

Description

The Chinese hibiscus, scientifically recognized as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, is a strikingly vibrant flowering plant belonging to the Malvaceae family. Originally described and cataloged in the “Species Plantarum” by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1753, this enchanting plant has captivated horticulturists and garden enthusiasts alike for centuries. One notable instance of its observation is recorded in the lush, tropical archipelago of Vanuatu, highlighting its adaptability and appeal in diverse climatic conditions.

Characterized by its large, radiant blooms, the Chinese hibiscus can be seen adorning gardens and landscapes with its array of colors, ranging from deep red to soft pink, as well as yellow and orange variations. These flowers not only serve as a visual delight but are also culturally significant in numerous regions, often symbolizing beauty and delicate charm.

The shrub typically thrives in well-drained soils with abundant sun exposure, preferring climates that offer warmth and humidity. Its robust nature allows it to grow as a perennial in tropical and subtropical environments, while in temperate areas, it is commonly cultivated indoors or as an annual.

Aside from its ornamental value, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis bears potential medicinal properties and is used in traditional remedies to address various ailments. The versatility and resilience of the Chinese hibiscus make it a beloved plant among botanists and gardeners, ensuring its continued prominence and appreciation across the globe.

Common Names

Eng: china-rose, chinese hibiscus, hawaiian hibiscus, shoeblackplant, hibiscus, rose-of-china, shoe-black plant
Deu: chinesischer roseneibisch
Spa: clavel japonés, pedro segundo
Por: hibisco, mimo-chinês, rosa-da-china
Swe: hibiskus
Fra: rose de chine
En: Chinese hibiscus, Hawaiian hibiscus, Hibiscus, Rose-of-China, China-rose, Shoeblackplant, Common Red, Hawiian hibiscus, Hibiscus rose-of-China, Shoe flower, China rose, Shoeflower, Չինական Վարդ, ဇဗ၊ ပ္ကဴ, Shoe-black plant, Chinese roos, Double rose-hibiscus, Hibiscus ‘Lipstick’, Shoe-back Plant, Tropical Hibiscus, Shoebackplant
Af: Gewone hibiskus
Ar: خطمي وردي صيني
Hy: Չինական վարդ
Az: Çin qızılgülü
Be: Кітайская ружа
Bn: জবা
Bg: Китайски хибискус
My: ခေါင်ရန်း
Zh: 朱槿
Cs: Ibišek čínský
Da: Hawaiiblomst
Nl: Chinese roos
Et: Rooshibisk
Fi: Kiinanruusu
Fr: Rose de Chine, Hibiscus rose de Chine, Chinesischer Roseneibisch, Rose de Cayenne, Hibiscus
De: Chinesischer Roseneibisch, China-Hibiskus
Ht: Choublak
He: היביסקוס סיני
Hu: Kínai hibiszkusz
Id: Kembang sepatu
Jv: Kembang Sepatu
Ko: 불상화
Lt: Kinrožė
Mk: Кинеска слезовина
Ms: Pokok Bunga Raya
Ml: ചുവന്ന ചെമ്പരത്തി
Mr: जास्वंद
Ne: जिभ्रे फूल
Or: ମନ୍ଦାର
Fa: ختمی چینی
Pl: Ketmia róża chińska
Pt: Rosa-da-China, Hibisco, Graxa-de-estudante, Mimo-de-vênus, Mimo-chinês
Ru: Гибискус китайский
Sa: जपापुष्पम्
Sd: عجائب گھر
Si: වද
Sk: Ibištek čínsky
Es: Clavel japonés, Pedro segundo
Su: Kembang Sapatu
Sv: Hibiskus
Zh-tw: 朱槿
Ta: செம்பருத்தி
Te: మందార
Th: ชบา
To: Kaute
Zh-hant: 朱槿
Tr: Çingülü
Uk: Гібіскус китайський
Vi: Dâm bụt

Synonyms

• Hibiscus arnottii (Griff. ex Mast.)
• Hibiscus sinensis grandiflorus (Hovey)
• Hibiscus tricolor (Dehnh.)
• Hibiscus metallicus (B.S.Williams)
• Hibiscus rosiflorus (Stokes)
• Hibiscus fulgens (W.Baxter)
• Hibiscus rosiflorus var. simplex (Stokes)
• Hibiscus denisonii (Burb.)
• Hibiscus festalis (Salisb.)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. variegatus (Sweet)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. flavoplenus (Sweet)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis albo-pleno (J.Harrison)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis aurantia-pleno (J.Harrison)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. rubroplenus (Sweet)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. genuinus (Hochr.)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. fulgidus (W.Bull)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. luteoplenus (Sweet)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. vivicans (W.Bull)
• Hibiscus miniatus-semiplenus (W.Bull)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. kermesinus (W.Bull)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis miniata-semiplenus (Meehan)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis flavus (G.Lodd.)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis carminata-perfecta (Meehan)
• Hibiscus colleri (Anon.)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis albovariegatus (Meehan)
• Hibiscus fulgidus (W.Bull)
• Hibiscus carminata-perfecta (W.Bull)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis colleri (Van Houtte)
• Hibiscus androphoropetaloides (Pancher)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. lucien-lindenii (N.E.Br.)
• Hibiscus rosiflorus var. plenus (Stokes)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. magnificus (Van Geert)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. zebrinus (Van Geert)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. flore-pleno (Seem.)
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. carneoplenus (Sweet)

Distribution

• Vanuatu (native)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Ascension (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Azores (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Belize (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Borneo (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• East Aegean Is. (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Galápagos (introduced)
• Gambia (introduced)
• Gilbert Is. (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Hainan (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Juan Fernández Is. (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Laos (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
• Line Is. (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Marshall Is. (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• Mexico Gulf (introduced)
• Mexico Northeast (introduced)
• Mexico Northwest (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Nauru (introduced)
• Nepal (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Pitcairn Is. (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Rodrigues (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Samoa (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Solomon Is. (introduced)
• Southwest Caribbean (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Tokelau-Manihiki (introduced)
• Tonga (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Tubuai Is. (introduced)
• Uganda (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Feb 20, 2019 by Fernando Ruiz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 10, 2017 by Ixchel Grimaldo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 25, 2019 by Raja Mayol Guillem Francesc (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 24, 2019 by claire casals (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 28, 2017 by Omar Colon (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Sep 6, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 23, 2022 by Keerthan Machaiah (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 14, 2015 by Sebastián Berrío (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 21, 2021 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2018 by Dan Man (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Mar 30, 2021 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 28, 2021 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 28, 2021 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 28, 2021 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 29, 2021 by mohammad fazel dehkordi (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 8, 2020 by Ishimwe Elie (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 19, 2016 by Eduardo Rafael Vital Peralta (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 15, 2021 by Naoufel Aouina (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 10, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 26, 2018 by Fil Ou (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Aug 19, 2020 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 22, 2019 by Vishnuvenkatesh Dhage VM (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 9, 2021 by Irmgard Groß (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 20, 2022 by Thiago de Albuquerque Bierrenbach (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 10, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Feb 25, 2020 by Vieira do Nascimento Paulo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 28, 2021 by Leidy Catalina Lopez (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 12, 2021 by ja th (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2021 by Schmidt Fernando da Luz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 23, 2022 by Keerthan Machaiah (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3152559)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:560756-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Tree, Subshrub, Shrub

Growth