Rose Mallow

In the South German gardens this shrub bears much larger flowers than in England. The pure white kind (totus albus) and a few others lead to the hope that it is a plant capable of real improvement through raising seedling forms, and perpetuating the best of them. In my own trials here this tree did not open on cool hilly soils, and half open it is not worth having. In the Thames valley and below the downs it flowers well.

Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) Growing Conditions

Hibisus requires full sunlight and a sandy soil which should be rich in organic matter and it must possess a good quality of water retaining. The ideal soil ph ranges in between 6 to 7 . These do not need much water but less watering leads to the wilting of the plant. A mulch added to with soil will help to maintain constant level of water.

Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) Care

Hibiscus plant needs at least six hours of complete light. Its planting beds can be prepared by mixing fourteen bags of azalea per square feet of existing soil. Then proper amount of hibiscus fertilizer should be added. To prevent the plants from weeds a little amount of Eptam or Surflan should be sprinkled in the soil. Pine bark mulch will provide strenght to the roots and will also help to retain moisture. If it has to be planted in a pot then the minimum diameter of the pot required is forteen inches with a hole presnt at the bottom of the pot providing proper water drainage. Ferlizers should be given four to five weeks. Formula number 10-4-12 will give more healthy offsprings.

• As it blooms for a single day so to last longer flowers should be picked in the morning and sealed in plastic bags.
• Improper watering may lead to the wilting of the plants.
• Its fertilizers should not contain potash .
• It is prefered to feed the plants during cooler parts of the day.
• Care must be taken that the ratio of water and fertilizer should be equal.

Rose Mallow (Hibiscus)Uses

• Hibiscus species known as Kenaf is widely used in paper making.
• Some of these are used in herbal teas and jams.
• Extracts of hibiscus flower are used to prepare medicines for curing bladder infection and nausea.
• Dried hibiscus petals are used to make a mexican drink called jamaica.
• Hibiscus species are used as food by the larvas of some Lepidoderma species.

Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) Pictures

Related Flowers

Syrian Mallow, Rose of Sharon

Syrian Mallow, Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus Syriacus) - A beautiful shrub, bearing showy blossoms in late summer and in autumn. The wild form has bluish-purple flowers with crimson centres, but now there are forms representing every tint from white (totus albus) to crimson and purple, while the blooms of one sort (Celeste) are almost blue. There are also double flowers of varied colors. The best kinds, single and double, are totus albus, Celeste, Violet Claire, Leopoldi, bicolor, roseus plenus, Pompon rouge, carneoplenus, Duc de Brabant, albus plenus, puniceus plenus, and anemonaeflorus.