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Hibiscus 18th century drawing

Hibiscus syriacus

Hibiscus syriacus, genus name is the old Greek and Latin name for mallow, is a shrub with large showy flowers in single- or double-flowering form. They're a native plant of China and India, and it is found wild in Anhui, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan and Zhejiang. Cultivated since ancient times in Fujian, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, and Xizang. Later introduced to Korea, Japan, and Asia minor and latter making its way into Europe. Hibiscus syriacus is a species of flowering plant in the family of Malvaceae. Also known as Syrian ketmai, rose mallow, or rose of Sharon.

Description

Hibiscus syriacus is a bushy deciduous shrub to 2m or more, with lobed leaves and single, pure white flowers to 12cm wide in late summer and early autumn. They can grow up to (1.5-2.5metres) high, spread of (1-1.5metres), and have a life expectancy of 10 up to 20 years. Growing in sheltered areas with full sun or partial shading, mostly facing south or west direction. The soil in which the Hibiscus thrives on is a moist, but well-drained, mixture of sand, clay, chalk, and loam. Maintaining an Alkaline, Neutral pH(5.5 - 7.0) levels. They bear large trumpet shaped flowers with promiment yellow-tipped white stamens. The flowers colors can range from blue, lavender, pink, purple, red, and white. Individual flowers that grow only last a day, contrasting when numerous flowers are produced providing a prolific life span lasting a long summer blooming period. They're highly tolerant to air pollution, heat, humidity, poor soil and drought.

Twigs

The twigs are thin and gray, white-lenticeled, with raised leaf scars and small buds. Stems and branches do not branch very much unless pruned, resulting in many long, straight stems that originate from about 0.5-1.5' above the ground that give rise to the overall vased shape 

Foliage

The leaves are usually green or yellowish green autumn color, alternate, broadly ovate, palmately veined, 3" long leaves. They have 3 distinct lobes with coarsely-toothed margin that create no color in the fall.

Trunk

The trunks of the Hibiscus syriacus are white-gray and relatively smooth, the branching is very near to the ground unless limbed up into tree form. 

Flower

Has 5-petaled flowers (to 3” diameter) solid colors of white, red, purple, mauve, violet, or blue, or bicolors with a different colored throat, depending upon cultivar.Constant blooming often occur during July through Sept., and usually at night. The 4" wide, single- or double-flowering, large- petaled, very showy flowers adorn the plant throughout the summer. With maturity, flexible plant stems become weighted under the load of prolific summer flowers, and bend over halfway to the ground.

Hibiscus Syriacus Cultivare Synonyms : Althaea frutex Mill. Hibiscus rhombifolius Cav.Ketmia syriaca (L.) Scop.Ketmia syrorum Medik. nom. illeg.

Cultivar

Cultivars of H. syriacus are easily grown. Widely planted in areas with hot summers for their very attractive white, pink, red, lavender, or purple large and edible flowers. They can grow in full sun to partial shade, but the best flowering occurs under sun, although the hibiscus can survive freezing temperatures, they grow best in warm weather, as cold weather can stunt bud growth. They prefers moist, well-drained soils supplemented with organic matter in full sun. Hibiscus also thrives in soil that is rich in potassium and low in phosphorus, but is very adaptable to various soils, soil pHs, soil compaction, drought, heavy pruning, and pollution (and is therefore urban tolerant).

Propagation

Hibiscus plants are propagated primarily by rooted stem cuttings, layering, cloning or by seeds if they have.

Fruits and Seeds

Most modern cultivars are virtually fruitless. Those who do have fruits are a green to brown, ornamentally unattrative 5-valved dehiscent capsules are persistent throughout much of the winter on older cultivars, they will eventually shatter over the course of the dormant season and spread their easily germinating seeds around the base of the parent plant, forming colonies with time.

Disease and Pests

Old shrubs can develop trunk cankers that may eventually prove fatal to the plant. Endoparasitoids of larval Anomis private (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), major pest of Hibiscus syriacus. Some susceptibility to leaf spots, blights, rusts and canker. Japanese beetles, whiteflies and aphids are occasional insect visitors. Japanese beetles can severely damage foliage if left unchecked. Whiteflies are especially harmful to the plant, they suck out juices from the underside of leaves. Afterwards, they secrete a substance called honeydew that leads to the growth of a black fungus. Whiteflies are attracted to yellow flowers. Aphids also secrete honeydew, which attracts ants to the plant. Hibiscus beetles are shiny black insects that burrow into the unopened flower, sucking out pollen before it blooms. Females then lay eggs in the bud. Beetles are drawn to white, yellow and pink flowers.

History and Culture

Hibiscus syriacus has been grown in Korea since time immemorial; its leaves were brewed into an herbal tea and its flowers are eaten. Now in days the Hibiscus flowers can be made into tea, syrup, jam, and stuffed fritters. Flower flavor is mild, and should be used as soon as it is picked. Later on it was introduced and grown in the gardens of Europe as early as the 16th century. In 18th century the shrub was common in English gardens and in the American colonies, known as Althea frutex and "Syrian ketmia".  Places like Mexico, Jamaica, Cuba, Filipina, Egypt, Sudan and Europe have there own variation of tea made with the hibiscus flower or leaf, to treat a variety of medical issues including problems with the nerves system, cardiac deseases, genital problems, colds, upper respiratory illness such as cough, and sore throat.