Hibiscus diversifolius
| Hibiscus diversifolius | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 10 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 3' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Hibiscus diversifolius (common name: swamp hibiscus)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[1]. The seed germinates inside 2 weeks and should be potted up into individual pots as soon as it is large enough to handle. Grow the plants on fast in a fairly rich compost and plant them out in late spring after the last expected frosts[K].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. These will be difficult to overwinter unless kept in heated environment[K].
Cultivation: Prefers a well-drained humus rich fertile soil in full sun[1].
A frost-tender shrub, it can be grown as an annual in temperate climates where it can flower and set seed in its first year of growth[1][K]. Plants can also be overwintered in a cold greenhouse if the winter is fairly mild[K].
As the specific name of this plant suggests, the leaves vary widely in shape. The first leaves to be produced are semi-circular in shape, but later leaves are distinctly three-lobed[K].
Plants are self-fertile[K].
Range: Tropics.
Habitat: Mainly by the coast, especially near rainforests, occasionally on disturbed ground in Australia in New South Wales and Queensland[2].
Edibility: Young leaf buds - they are good either raw or cooked[3][4]. The young leaves can also be eaten, they are mild and quite mucilaginous, making a pleasant addition to the salad bowl[K].
Flowers - raw or cooked with other foods[5][4]. They have a very mild flavour and are very mucilaginous[K]. They make a very acceptable and beautiful addition to the salad bowl[K].
Root - it is edible but very fibrousy[3]. Mucilaginous, without very much flavour[3].
Medicinal: Abortifacient?[2].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Some caution should be observed when using this plant because there is a report that it might be used to procure abortions. We have no further details.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lassak, Erich and Tara McCarthy. Australian Medicinal Plants.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Cribb, Alan and Joan Cribb. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana, 1976.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.