Hibiscus sinosyriacus
| Hibiscus sinosyriacus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 10' |
| Width: | 7' |
| Speed: | Moderate |
| Blooms: | Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Hibiscus sinosyriacus (common name: rose of sharon)
Propagation: Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. Germination is usually fairly quick. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer.
Some reports say that the seed can be sown in situ outside and that it gives a good rate of germination[1][2][3].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Good percentage[3].
Cuttings of mature wood, early autumn in a frame. Good percentage[3].
Layering in mid summer to early autumn[4].
Cultivation: Prefers a well-drained humus rich fertile soil in a sheltered position in full sun[5]. Succeeds in any soil of good or moderate quality[6]. Dislikes shade or badly drained soils[6]. Plants grow best with their roots in cool moist soil and their tops in a hot sunny position.
Plants are hardy in most parts of the country, tolerating temperatures down to around -15°c[5]. They are best grown in the milder areas, however, because of their habit of flowering late in the season and thus being subject to frost damage[5]. When planted in colder parts of the country they will need some protection for the first few winters[5].
This species is closely related to H. syriacus, differing mainly in the larger leaves and larger epicalyx[5].
Plants rarely require pruning[7], though they respond well to pruning and trimming and this is best carried out in the spring or just after flowering[7]. The flowers are produced on the current season's growth[5]. and they only open in sunny weather[7].
Plants are late coming into leaf, usually around the end of May or early June[8].
There are some named varieties selected for their ornamental value[6].
Range: E. Asia - China.
Habitat: Scrub in valleys at elevations of 500 - 1000 metres[9].
Edibility: The following notes are for the closely related H. syriacus. They quite probably also apply to this species[K].
Young leaves - raw or cooked[10][11][12][13]. A very mild flavour, though slightly on the tough side, they make an acceptable addition to the salad bowl[K].
A tea is made from the leaves[10][11][14] or the flowers[13].
Flowers - raw or cooked[15][16][13]. A mild flavour and mucilaginous texture, they are delightful in salads, both for looking at and for eating[K].
Root - it is edible but very fibrousy[17]. Mucilaginous, without very much flavour[17].
Medicinal: The following notes are for the closely related H. syriacus. They quite possibly also apply to this species[K].
The leaves are diuretic, expectorant and stomachic[20][14].
A decoction of the flowers is diuretic, ophthalmic and stomachic[18][20]. It is also used in the treatment of itch and other skin diseases[14], dizziness and bloody stools accompanied by much gas[18].
A decoction of the root bark is antiphlogistic, demulcent, emollient, febrifuge, haemostatic and vermifuge[20][14]. It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, dysmenorrhoea[14] and dermaphytosis[18].
Usage: The following notes are for the closely related H. syriacus. They quite probably also apply to this similar species[K].
A low quality fibre is obtained from the stems. It is used for making cordage and paper[15].
The seed contains about 25% oil[15]. No further details are given, but it is likely to be edible.
A hair shampoo is made from the leaves[15].
A blue dye is obtained from the flowers[21].
This species is planted as a hedge in S. Europe[22].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ McMillan-Browse, Philip. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books, 1985.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Grey-Wilson, Christopher and Victoria Matthews. Gardening on Walls. Collins, 1983.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Read, Bernard. Famine Foods Listed in the Chiu Huang Pen Ts'ao. Taipei Southern Materials Centre, 1977.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Cribb, Alan and Joan Cribb. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana, 1976.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ Stuart, George. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei Southern Materials Centre.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.