Wonderful World Of Hibiscus By Carole Nixon At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Hibiscus are remarkable for the magnitude and elegant colors of their flowers, which appear very similar to those of the Hollyhock of China.

Okra Hibiscus esculentus

An ornamental plant, extensively cultivated in the tropical countries of America. There are two varieties with single and double flowers.The seeds when ripe and roasted form, by infusion, a drink difficult to distinquish from coffee. Sow early in May and cover an inch deep.

Hibiscus Trionum (Venice mallow, or flower of an hour)

It is a native of some parts of Italy, and has long been cultivated in the gardens of this country. It rises with a branching stalk, a foot and a half high, having many short spines, which are soft, and do not appear unless closely viewed.

The leaves are divided into three lobes which are deeply jagged. The Hibiscus flowers come out at the joints of the stalks, upon pretty long foot stalks. They have a double impalement, the outer being composed of ten long narrow leaves, which join at their base.

The inner is of one thin leaf swollen like a bladder, cut into 5 acute segments at the top, having many longitudinal purple ribs, and is hairy. Both these are permanent, and enclose the capsule after the flower is past.

The flower is composed of 5 petals, which spread open at the top. The lower part forming an open bell shaped flower. These have dark purple bottoms, but are of a pale sulphur color above. In hot weather Hibiscus flowers continue to open only for a few hours but there is a continuation of flowers that open daily over a considerable period of time.

It is propagated by seeds, which should be sown where the plants are designed to remain, for they do not bear transplanting well. They require no other culture than to be kept from weeds, and thinned where they are too close, and if the seeds are permitted to scatter, the plants will come up fully as well as if they had been sown.

Abelmoschus Manihot (formerly Hibiscus manihot, Sunset muskmallow and Sunset Hibiscus)

A quick growing woody perennial shrub in the sub tropics and tropics and an annual in colder regions. Each flower lasts for only a short time and the flowers bloom continuously one after another right through the season. Enjoys the full sun to part shade and is best propagated from cuttings.

Hibiscus Africanus

This very beautiful Hibiscus flower is so superior to the Bladder Ketmin, that it has nearly superseded it in gardens. The petals are of a very pale yellow or rich cream color, and the blotch at the base of each is of a very rich reddish brown.The species is a native of Africa, particularly near the Cape of Good Hope, where it is a shrub.

It was first introduced in 1713, and has been frequently lost to our gardens, from its inability to ripen its seeds without abundance of heat. It requires a light sandy soil and when it comes up, it may either be thinned out and tied up, or left to flower as it grows.

Hibiscus Cannabinus

The flowers are large, yellow with purple bottoms. It is fast growing with prickly stems and can grow up to 15 feet. Propagation is by seed, and it likes slightly moist, well drained soil, and a partially shaded position. Can be grown in pots.

An annual universally known in India, and in many parts cultivated, not only for the fibres of its bark, but also for its green leaves, which are of an agreeably acid flavour, not unlike sorrel.

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