Hibiscus

National flower:Malaysia(red flower),Sudan, Papua New Guinea

Hibiscus (Hibiscus, Scientific Name:Hibiscus hybrids, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis,) is a shrub native to Vanuatu, belonging to the Malvaceae family and the genus Hibiscus. It is the national flower of Sudan and Papua New Guinea, and in Malaysia, it is known as Bunga Raya (scientific name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), also serving as the national flower.

It is also known by other names such as Hibiskus, Busso-uge, Fūrin-busso-uge, and Ryūkyū-mukuge. As a tropical tree symbolizing the South Seas, it is also designated as the state flower of Hawaii.

The plant height varies from 30 cm for dwarf varieties and potted plants to 300 cm for tall varieties and garden use. The leaves are green, broadly ovate, with serrated edges. In tropical regions, the plant blooms year-round, while in Japan, it flowers from March to November, producing flowers with diameters ranging from 5 to 20 cm in colors such as red, yellow, orange, white, pink, and bicolor.

The flower has five petals, with a prominent style and tubular stamens extending from the center. In addition to wild species, many horticultural varieties have been developed, offering a wide range of flower colors, sizes, and forms, including single, double, and various mutations.

Because of its beautiful flowers, Hibiscus is used for ornamental purposes in gardens, pots, flower beds, and parks, as well as in medicine. However, Hibiscus tea is extracted from a related species, Roselle (Scientific Name: Hibiscus sabdariffa).

Broad Sense of Hibiscus
In a broad sense, Hibiscus refers to all plants classified under the Malvaceae family, genus Hibiscus, including not only narrow-sense Hibiscus but also Fu-yō and Mukuge. Below is an illustration depicting the differences among these flowers:

Left: Mukuge, Center: Fu-yō, Right: Hibiscus

Types of Hibiscus
Hibiscus arnottianus is a wild Hibiscus native to Hawaii.
Hibiscus saintjohnianus is an endemic species on the island of Kauai, producing yellow and orange flowers.
Fūrin-busso-uge is a variant of Hibiscus.
Horticultural Varieties

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cv. Mrs. James E. Hendry - A garden variety that produces bright yellow flowers.
Origin of the Flower Name
The species name "rosa-sinensis" means "Rose of China." When Europeans first encountered Hibiscus in China, they named it after the rose due to its resemblance.

Plants with the Name Hibiscus but Belonging to Different Genera
In the same family, some flowers have "Hibiscus" in their name but belong to different genera. For example, the Blue Hibiscus (Alyogyne huegelii), also known as Lilac Hibiscus due to its color, is from a different genus (Alyogyne). Additionally, Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) belongs to the Malvaceae family but is from a different genus (Alcea).

Common Name: Hibiscus
Scientific Name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Hibiscus hybrids
National Flower: Malaysia (Bunga Raya, scientific name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), Sudan, Papua New Guinea
Other Names: Hibiskus, Busso-uge, Fūrin-busso-uge, Ryūkyū-mukuge
Classification: Plantae, Angiosperms, Eudicots, Malvales, Malvaceae, Hibiscus genus
Height: 30 cm (dwarf varieties, for potted plants) to 300 cm (tall varieties, for garden use)
Leaf Shape: Broadly ovate
Leaf Edge: Serrated
Leaf Color: Green
Blooming Period: March to November (year-round in tropical regions)
Flower Diameter: 5–20 cm
Flower Colors: Red, Yellow, Orange, White, Pink, Bicolor
Uses: Ornamental (garden, potted plants, flower beds), medicinal
Note: Hibiscus tea is extracted from Roselle.

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