Why hibiscus is called the flower of death, Chinese rose care. Hibiscus - Chinese rose: types, care, cultivation and reproduction at home

In many countries of the world, a strikingly beautiful plant, the hibiscus, is well known. It has many varieties and names - hibiscus, red mallow, red rose, Jamaican rose, Chinese rose, Syrian rose (ketmiya), rosan, red sorrel, okra, kenaf, rose of sharon, red rose of Sudan, mallow of Venice, flower of love .. .

The homeland of hibiscus is considered to be Southeast Asia, but they grow freely in Africa and America. In America, they form entire thickets on wet floodplain meadows, lushly covered with flowers. For their great love for moisture, they are called “marsh mallow” there.

Hibiscus - "flower of love" and health

According to feng shui, hibiscus is a fire plant. It is believed that it strengthens marriage and helps to establish contacts in business. Blooming hibiscus fills the house with vitality energy, helps to cope with depression.

Even in the recent past in China, a dye was made from hibiscus flowers, leaves and stems were used to produce ropes and ropes, and medicinal properties roots, leaves and flowers of hibiscus are repeatedly mentioned in treatises on traditional medicine.

And hibiscus is good for health. Tea from flowers (hibiscus) and hibiscus flowers themselves have many beneficial health effects.

Chinese hibiscus well cleans and heals indoor air, and also has a very life-giving effect on weak plants - next to it, sick plants come to life, strengthen and grow.

"Princess Earrings"

Hibiscus is the national flower of Malaysia. Its five petals symbolize the five commandments of Islam. The flower is revered not only by the Muslim Malays, but also by the pagan Dayaks, and the Chinese, and the Hindus. And in Hawaii, hibiscus is considered national plant. They call it a flower beautiful women. Local beauties often adorn themselves with it bright colors, which contrast very effectively with their black curls - you can imagine how this sight attracts the eyes of temperamental Hawaiians. In Brazil, the dissected hibiscus grows, called "Princess Earrings". It has split petals and a long pedicel, on which it gracefully sways, really resembling an exquisite earring. Hibiscus flowers are also called the "flower of love", in India they are woven into wedding wreaths.

Hibiscus in their places of growth serve not only for decorative purposes. As a vegetable spicy plant, okra is grown. This is also a hibiscus. Young leaves and shoots of hibiscus are eaten as vegetables. Seeds, leaves, fruits, roots are used in medicine. Necklaces are made from seeds. From the flowers, black hair dye and purple are obtained for the food industry. Dried hibiscus petals are brewed as a tea.

indoor hibiscus

Hibiscus grows outdoors in the Caucasus, Moldova, southern Ukraine, Crimea, Kuban. There is evidence that it can withstand frosts down to -10 ° C even in snowless winters. In more northern regions, it is covered for the winter or removed to the basement, for cold veranda. In colder places, hibiscus can only grow in rooms. Already at the beginning of the XVIII century. hibiscus adorned the botanical gardens of Europe, conquering visitors with its lush bloom. After seeing such a miracle, who would not want to have it at home? And so far it is one of the most beloved and common indoor plants.

It is a strongly branching shrub or tree 2-4.5 m high. The leaves are dark green, shiny, oblong-oval or oblong-ovate, serrated along the edge, large (up to 15 cm), arranged alternately on the stem. The flowers are large (from 8 to 16 cm in diameter), five-petalled, with varying degrees of doubleness. The stamens fused into a tube protrude strongly, giving some piquancy - especially not terry, but simple flowers. The color spectrum is the most diverse, except for blue and black. The hibiscus flower stays on the stem for only one day, but new buds open to replace it, delighting us with its flowering for several months.

Healing properties of hibiscus

In folk medicine, hibiscus flowers are used as an anticonvulsant, bactericidal, diuretic, choleretic agent. When cut, they are used to stop bleeding. Lotions from soaked flowers treat skin inflammation, weeping eczema.

Fresh leaves and flowers, pounded into a homogeneous mass, are applied to boils, abscesses, swelling in endemic parotitis (mumps), and even to malignant tumors. It is also a very effective remedy for getting rid of youthful acne.

Hibiscus flowers contain a large number of fruit acids, and due to the content of ascorbic and citric acid Hibiscus tea helps a lot with elevated temperature. At the same time, there is no oxalic acid in this drink, so it can be consumed with a tendency to form kidney stones.

Drink from hibiscus flowers relieves nervous tension, helps to resist neuropsychic overload, overcome chronic fatigue. Hibiscus tea is especially recommended to reduce the effects of a hangover.

Temperature. Chinese hibiscus is quite thermophilic indoor plant. In summer, it should be kept at 20-25 ° C, and in winter - 15-20 ° C. Minimum allowable temperature in winter time 13 °C.

Lighting. Chinese rose is a light-loving houseplant. Prefers bright, but diffused light, with a small amount of sunlight. In winter, hibiscus need a fairly bright room. East or West windows - the best place for him. And on the south window in the hottest hours of the day you will need shading from direct sunlight.

Watering. From spring to autumn, hibiscus needs abundant watering. The soil must be kept moist at all times. In winter, watering is moderate. Avoid overdrying the earthy coma or waterlogging. Never water your hibiscus with cold water!

Fertilizer. Chinese rose from April to August, every three weeks, is fed with special fertilizers for flowering plants.

Air humidity. Hibiscus needs regular spraying.

Transfer. Transplanted Chinese rose in March-April.

Soil composition: 1 part of peat land; 1 part leaf ground; 1 part sod land; 1 part sand.

After transplantation, the houseplant is cut off, and in the summer, if desired and necessary, you can pinch it repeatedly. Dishes for Chinese roses are preferably spacious. In the spring, the hibiscus is shortened, and then transplanted into a larger pot (if necessary) and into fresh soil.

Reproduction. Hibiscus is propagated by cuttings. It is best to root them in July-August. Cut green apical cuttings with 2-3 internodes, plant them in pots and cover with jars. A month later, the cuttings take root. In the spring, young plants are transplanted into large pots with a nutrient mixture consisting of turf (4 parts), leaf (3 parts) earth, humus (1 part) and river sand(1 part). To prevent young plants from stretching and developing side shoots, they are pruned. Flower buds are mainly laid on the shoots of the 3rd-4th order of branching, therefore, pinching and pruning of the main and side shoots are started when they reach 8-10 cm in length. From the moment of pruning and pinching to flowering, 3-3.5 months pass.

When the earthen coma dries out or is over-watered, the hibiscus leaves wither and turn yellow, and buds and flowers may also fall off.

During flowering and budding, hibiscus should not be moved, rotated or rearranged, as this will lead to the fall of flowers and buds.

The beginning of flowering hibiscus accelerates its pruning. In the middle of spring, all dried, lost leaves and stretched shoots should be cut off. Healthy shoots need to be shortened by a third of the length or half.

Chinese rose, or Chinese hibiscus, is a common plant in southern countries. In our homes, he is a rare guest, since many signs are associated with hibiscus, and among the inhabitants he is often called the flower of death.

What will the Chinese rose bring

Among the superstitions of skeptics around hibiscus, there are many common signs that an indoor flower can affect a person’s fate.

Among the Eastern peoples, this plant with bright red flowers is symbolized with the element of fire, therefore it often becomes an object of worship in various religious rituals. For residents of many countries, only good signs are associated with hibiscus:

• Haitians decorate decorative wreaths with this flower, presented to their dear guests, for them hibiscus is a symbol of their country, and the image of a Chinese rose is present in many photographs from Haiti,
• The Chinese consider the flowering of hibiscus as an omen of the upcoming wedding,
• for Brazilians, this flower has become a symbol of childbirth,
• among the Indians, the Chinese rose represents innocence and serves as a decoration for the bride's hairstyle.

The Chinese rose belongs to the herbaceous plants of the Asian and Latin American tropics, which flower growers have acclimatized for cultivation in room conditions, provided him with proper care and mastered the process of reproduction.

Its single flowers large sizes can be of different colors, it can bloom white, you can see a pink color, but most often they are blood red, as in the photo, which is why hibiscus is the flower of death among the people and has been credited with notoriety and magical properties for some time now.

When hibiscus grows at home

Flower growers who fell in love with hibiscus for its appearance say that a Chinese rose blooming with proper care at home cannot bring any misfortunes into the house. Usually the time of flowering falls on the period from April-May to September-October. Only when the hibiscus bloomed in other months for no apparent reason, many associate bad omens with its flowering:

• the sudden flowering of the Chinese rose is a harbinger of the disease,
• when an indoor flower bloomed out of season, this warns of possible failures,
• suddenly blooming hibiscus inflorescences call death to the inhabitants of the house.

There is a superstition that hibiscus is not kept at home because it feeds on the energy of others. But in this, fans of the Chinese rose often see positive sides, declaring that the flower is capable, among other things, of taking on the negative, freeing the room from troubles.

Many changes in appearance indoor flower perceived by their owners as unfavorable signs, including when:

• the indoor flower then blooms, then begins to fade, as a result of which sheds leaves,
• despite proper care, unopened hibiscus buds fell off.

Popular signs about hibiscus, warning the emergence of a danger that threatens the life and health of households, will be a sharp change in the well-being of the flower with unchanged care, when the houseplant first blooms profusely, and then suddenly begins to fade for no apparent reason. Such a sign of a person’s problems according to signs can be darkened and falling leaves. Many begin to associate this state of an indoor flower with its warning about serious illnesses in the household.

Tea rose for love

Many among the signs that surround home hibiscus pay great attention to its influence on love relationships, making a Chinese rose a real source of strong love feelings and family well-being. Some give this southern flower the ability to help in building relationships with the second half.

It is believed that the owner of a homemade hibiscus, under the influence of a fragrant pink or red indoor flower, becomes even more attractive in appearance, but they warn that new contacts and relationships established on them will be of a short duration.

Among the fans of the Chinese rose, there are many who are absolutely sure that with the help of a flower you can revive passion and ardor in a cooled relationship, therefore they are actively engaged in reproduction and growing roses at home, despite superstition.

However, there are those who insist that hibiscus cannot be kept at home in an apartment, since it is often used in magic in rituals for inducing damage and love spells, and they advise getting rid of it. There are also those supporters who are sure that the hibiscus that has settled at home will take on the role of a husband, without giving unmarried women get a family. And therefore, it is recommended to start a hibiscus at home only for those girls who do not intend to tie the knot in the near future.

Hibiscus at work

Oriental Feng Shui recommends placing a flower in the workplace in order to be charged with energy from it, as this southern plant is credited with a large concentration of energy. Placed in the office, the Chinese rose will take over laziness and self-doubt, giving in return a creative upsurge and endowing it with organizational activity.

• overly depressed
• unable to cope with low performance,
• quickly loses activity and gets tired,
• does not find the strength to end any bad habits,
• unable to concentrate on tasks
• is looking for creative solutions.

According to the sign of the Zodiac, hibiscus is most suitable for the constellation Leo, with which they are similar in energy. The flower will help such people to recharge their energy and become more active.

From the petals of the Chinese rose, to which the Eastern peoples attribute energy and strength, they brew useful hibiscus tea, which strengthens the heart system and normalizes the functioning of blood vessels. Seasonings derived from Chinese rose can be used to improve appetite.

With the ability to absorb microparticles from the air, which are dangerous, they have served as the subject for the appearance of many signs associated with hibiscus about its falling leaves and wilting. Such a change in the well-being of a plant can often be observed as a sign that the concentration of substances harmful to the body reaches a critical norm.

At good care the plant does not require frequent transplantation. Transplantation is often associated with the process of reproduction.

China rose or hibiscus- A fairly well-known and popular indoor plant, despite the fact that various mystical properties have been attributed to it since ancient times. Many signs and superstitions are associated with hibiscus, but it also has useful properties.

Did you know? The red Hibiscus flower appears on the coat of arms of Malaysia, and in its capital there is a beautiful Hibiscus Park, in which more than 2 thousand specimens of the plant grow.

Description of hibiscus

Hibiscus, or Chinese rose, belongs to the family mallow. In nature, there are more than two hundred species this plant. Hibiscus is mainly distributed in South and West Asia, China, on the islands of Polynesia and in other regions with a tropical climate. Hibiscus flowers are bright, graceful, large (they can reach the size of a soccer ball), the leaves are curly, petiolate, and the fruits are five-winged boxes with seeds. Some species differ significantly in shape, color, size of the plant and flower. Hibiscus can be represented in the life form of a shrub, semi-shrub, herbaceous plant and even trees. Today, apart from garden species hibiscus, there are about five hundred varieties and forms of the plant. Hibiscus blooms from April to October. The life expectancy of this plant is at least twenty years.

Interesting fact!In the city of Suva on about. Fiji holds the Hibiscus Festival every year, which lasts a week, and the festival program includes various concerts, talent shows, parades, circus shows.

Bad omens associated with hibiscus

There are many bad omens why you can’t keep a Chinese rose at home, but they believe in them only in Eastern Europe, and in all other countries there are no claims to the plant.

Here are some of the clues:

Important!Feng Shui teaches that hibiscus preserves feelings, strengthens marriage and kindles fading passion. It is recommended to put hibiscus with red and pink flowers. According to feng shui, the Chinese rose with white flowers promotes the renewal of qi energy, which is closely related to human health, and it is advised to grow it for those people who find it difficult to find contact with others, as it helps to be self-confident and show their emotions and feelings.

Useful properties of hibiscus

Hibiscus is rich in vitamin C, fruit acids, flavonoids.

Chinese rose has such useful properties:

The beauty and benefits of hibiscus will delight you for years to come.

Hibiscus or Chinese rose, now it is perhaps one of the most popular both indoor and outdoor. office plants. It is not surprising, because its lush and bright buds have won the hearts of people, what can I say for the leaves that shine in the sun. These flowers were grown back in the 18th century, in the Botanical Gardens of Europe.

In diameter, the Chinese rose can reach 15-16 centimeters. Also a plant able to live up to 30 years and grow up to 2 meters high. At the moment, there is simply an unthinkable number of varieties and types of Chinese roses.

The flower is truly mesmerizing. That's what it is main reason, according to which hibiscus has gained such popularity and love among flower growers from all over the world. Chinese rose is able to bloom for a whole year if you create a row favorable conditions for its normal growth and functioning.

It is worth looking a little into history and finding out why the hibiscus or Chinese rose is called the flower of death? Much here is based on the belief that the flower is a source of negative energy, which subsequently begins to absorb human strength and health, even another more malicious name - burnet. For the most part, hibiscus flowers have a red tint, which is why it resembles the appearance of blood. But still there are varieties with a variety of colors.

There are also many beliefs that hibiscus does not easily take away vitality but even brings a person closer to death. Because of what, all kinds of psychics and other experts are talking with might and main that you need to get rid of such flowers.

Others argue that the flower may be a kind of harbinger of misfortune. He will inform his owners about the approach of trouble. For example, if a hibiscus dropped its leaves, then it is safe to say that someone in the family will get sick.

This plant has both its negative and positive properties. For example, if you trust signs, then there is a belief that for a girl who wants to jump out to get married, this is the most the best remedy. Although a completely different belief insists that the flower is real evil, and can bring sorrow to the family.

Its mystical properties are the main reason why hibiscus is used in various magical rituals and damage. But do superstitions have any basis? It all depends on you and your superstition. If you are not haunted by doubts, prejudices and you want to buy this flower shrouded in mystery, know that it will become an excellent decoration for your home. The main thing is not to forget about the full care of the plant.

Growing Chinese rose

Botanists can say with full confidence that growing this miracle is a real pleasure. But the plant needs to be carefully looked after, even if it is not too whimsical, but it requires good lighting and frequent watering. And if you spray it every day and sometimes cut it, you can get a miniature tree. But still, the main advantage of the plant is lush and bright flowers. But it is worth noting that flowering lasts no more than 2 days, but with proper care the flower may grow back.

First of all, a plant needs a lot of space, because it can grow quite large. Such a pleasure is not so expensive, but you will need to spend money on taking care of it first of all because the flower is exposed to various pests.

Chinese rose: home care

When keeping hibiscus at home, it needs a certain temperature environment. In summer, this mark should fluctuate +20 to +25, in winter this mark is slightly lower from +14 to +20 degrees. In winter, it is not necessary to lower the temperature, the Chinese rose is calm can overwinter in and warm conditions , then under cooler conditions, it will develop better. In the summer it is worth taking out in the sun. But do it gradually so that the plant does not get burned.

The flower needs a huge amount of light, in heavily shaded places the hibiscus fades quickly and does not bloom at all, but excessive solar radiation can harm the plant. The leaves will get burnt and fall off quickly, so it is better to get diffused light on it. You need to put the flower on the windowsill.

It is advisable to plant the plant in a flowerpot. In the summer it will be possible to take out the Chinese rose (photo) to the balcony or terrace. It is also important to protect the flower from drafts and do not overdo it with watering. In the spring, this should be done abundantly, in the winter, slow down the pace. The main thing here is to find the golden mean. After each watering, you will need to loosen the soil a little, and preferably spray the leaves twice a day. If it's hot, then you need to do it more often.

Soil for Chinese rose

Here is not such a complicated recipe and it is prepared in this way:

• part of simple soil;
• one part sand;
• one part of humus.

Then all this will need to be thoroughly mixed and a sprout planted, you can also add foam balls and small pebbles to the soil. A plant should be transplanted only when it has already taken root and is actively growing. From the moment the cutting is accepted, a lot of time will pass. In the process of growth, a flower should be transplanted once a year, and it is better to choose a larger flowerpot each time. For full engraftment, during a transplant at home, you will need create a special texture, which consists of:

• one part of humus;
• parts of peat land;
• one part sand;
• two parts of sod land.

also in spring period, it will be possible to feed the flower with various mineral fertilizers. In particular, you need to resort to substances such as iron and copper chelate for help. At the end of August, intensive feeding should be stopped. The rest of the year you need to do this once a month. It will be useful to fertilize plants by adding special solutions to the water during spraying.

Diseases of the Chinese rose (hibiscus)

The plant is not too whimsical and under normal home conditions will feel more than comfortable. But worth it taking care of hibiscus so that the flower grows healthy and beautiful. If there are too many leaves on the stem and they all turn green, then the Chinese rose will not bloom at all. Also, poor flowering may be due to the fact that the soil is saturated with a large amount of nitrogen fertilizer. The problem may arise not only due to oversaturation with minerals, perhaps the plant simply does not have enough light and watering.

By adhering to the rules of growing a Chinese rose or hibiscus, as this flower is commonly called, you can get a beautiful, healthy plant that will decorate any room.

hibiscus flower

In many countries of the world, a strikingly beautiful plant, amazing in its energy capabilities, is well known - hibiscus. It has many varieties and names - hibiscus, red mallow, red rose, Jamaican rose, Chinese rose, Syrian rose (ketmiya), rosan, red sorrel, okra, kenaf, rose of sharon, red rose of Sudan, mallow of Venice, flower of love ... Genus hibiscus (Hibiscus) belongs to the Malvaceae family and has about 300 species growing for the most part in tropical regions - Indonesia, South China, the islands of Haiti, Fiji, Sumatra, Java, Sri Lanka. life forms represented by herbs, deciduous and evergreen shrubs, rarely - small trees. The name of this genus appeared in Ancient Greece. True, the Greeks did not know the plant that now bears this name. Hibiscus they called the Mediterranean plant, which modern taxonomists refer to the genus Alcaea. But the name has stood the test of time and is used by botanists in our time. Hibiscus is considered the birthplace southeast Asia, but they grow freely in Africa and America. In America, they form entire thickets on wet floodplain meadows, lushly covered with flowers. For their great love for moisture, they are called “marsh mallow” there.

Hibiscus is the national flower of Malaysia. Its five petals symbolize the five commandments of Islam. The flower is revered not only by the Muslim Malays, but also by the pagan Dayaks, and the Chinese, and the Hindus. And in Hawaii, hibiscus is considered the national plant. There it is called the flower of beautiful women. Local beauties often adorn themselves with its bright colors, which contrast very effectively with their black curls - you can imagine how this sight attracts the eyes of temperamental Hawaiians. In Brazil, the dissected hibiscus grows, called “Princess Earrings”. He has split petals and a long pedicel, on which he gracefully sways, really resembling an exquisite earring. Hibiscus flowers are also called the "flower of love", in India they are woven into wedding wreaths. Hibiscus in their places of growth serve not only for decorative purposes. As a vegetable spicy plant, okra is grown. This is also a hibiscus. Young leaves and shoots of hibiscus are eaten as vegetables. Seeds, leaves, fruits, roots are used in medicine. Necklaces are made from seeds. From the flowers, black hair dye and purple are obtained for the food industry. Dried hibiscus petals are brewed as a tea.

Hibiscus grows outdoors in the Caucasus, Moldova, southern Ukraine, Crimea, Kuban. There is evidence that it can withstand frosts down to -10 C even in snowless winters. In more northern regions, it is covered for the winter or removed to the basement, to a cold veranda. In colder places, hibiscus can only grow in rooms. Already at the beginning of the 18th century. hibiscus adorned the botanical gardens of Europe, conquering visitors with its lush flowering. After seeing such a miracle, who would not want to have it at home? And so far it is one of the most beloved and common indoor plants.

It is a strongly branching shrub or tree 2-4.5 m high. The leaves are dark green, shiny, oblong-oval or oblong-ovate, serrated along the edge, large (up to 15 cm), arranged alternately on the stem. The flowers are large (from 8 to 16 cm in diameter), five-petalled, with varying degrees of doubleness. The stamens fused into a tube protrude strongly, giving some piquancy - especially not to terry, but to simple flowers. The color spectrum is the most diverse, except for blue and black. The hibiscus flower stays on the stem for only one day, but new buds open to replace it, delighting us with its flowering for several months. Hibiscus is also good for health. Tea from flowers (hibiscus) and hibiscus flowers themselves have many beneficial health effects. More on this later. In the meantime - more about the types of hibiscus.

Hibiscusiada: varieties of hibiscus
Now there are more than 1000 (and this number is constantly increasing) garden forms and varieties of hibiscus, differing in the degree of doubleness, the size of the flowers and their color: white, yellow, pink, salmon, orange, red, lilac, purple ... Hibiscus petals can be streaked, framed along the edge with a border or decorated with an "eye" of contrasting color. Hibiscus is one of the best long-flowering perennials for warm regions; it blooms profusely from June until frost. Hibiscus also grows in urban conditions - this plant is smoke and gas resistant. In colder regions, hibiscus is cultivated in greenhouses, winter gardens and indoor breeding.

Of the woody species, the most famous are Chinese rose hibiscus, or maple (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), a long-flowering indoor plant and Syrian hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus), widely cultivated in the Crimea, the Caucasus, in Central Asia; variable hibiscus (Hibiscus mutabilis) and Indian hibiscus (Hibiscus indicus), malvaviscus (Malvaviscus). Of the herbaceous species, the most popular are: hybrid hibiscus (Hibiscus hybrida) - perennial, large-flowered polyhybrids; hirsute hibiscus (Hibiscus lasiocarpus), ternate hibiscus (Hibiscus trionum). big economic importance have hemp hibiscus (Hibiscus cannabinus), known as kenaf, as well as okra (Hibiscus esculentus) and hibiscus, or hibiscus sabdariffa (Hibiscus sabdariffa), from which spices and tea are produced, respectively.

In culture, the most common are:
Hibiscus Chinese rose, or maple (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis). Sometimes in the literature this plant is found under the name of Chinese rosan, among the people a variety of this type of hibiscus with double flowers is called “rosan”, or “rozanel”. As you might guess from the name, the plant comes from the subtropics of Southern China. It was brought to Europe at the end of the 17th century. This is evergreen shrub or tree, up to 4 m tall (at home), at home - from 70 to 1.2 m, with a mass of shiny dark green, glossy on top, oval- or ovate-elongated, serrated along the edge of the leaves. The most common type of hibiscus in indoor breeding. The Chinese rose is distinguished by its rapid growth and long flowering - with proper care, it can bloom all spring and summer until late autumn. Flowers are large, up to 10-16 cm in diameter, various different colors- from fiery and orange-red to pink and yellow, depending on the variety, simple and double. The threads of stamens, fused into a long tube, protruding far from the flower, give a special charm to the flower. A non-double flower is similar in shape and size to the flowers of simple mallows, to which the hibiscus actually belongs. It develops well and blooms profusely in tropical and subtropical climates and in warm temperate climates with positive winter temperatures. In a humid climate, it can easily withstand short-term winter temperature drops to 0 degrees and even small night frosts on the soil. Great for decorating spacious halls, foyers, winter gardens, offices. This type of hibiscus suffers from air pollution. AT recent times breeders have bred a large number of varieties and hybrids of this familiar and very beloved plant - more than 1000 hybrids and garden forms, differing in different colors and degrees of double flowers. Common forms of Chinese hibiscus include the following varieties:
Anita Bis (Anita Buis) - flowers are simple, yellow-orange;
Florida (Florida) - flowers are large (up to 14 cm in diameter), non-double, orange-red;
Hamburg (Hamburg) - flowers are large, double, carmine-red;
Rose (Rosa) - semi-double and double flowers, salmon-pink;

Variegated hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cooperi) - variegated form, differs in narrower and more beautiful variegated leaves with pink and white stains, especially a lot of light and pink spots on the upper young leaves, these bizarre patterns can take quite a lot of space on the leaves, sometimes up to 99% of their entire area, the flowers of this variety are smaller, more often color pink, simple;
Hibiscus var. Cooperi Alba - with beautiful, small, variegated leaves (unequal white and pink-red strokes and spots are scattered on a light green background), this variety is more thermophilic, so it feels comfortable in winter at an air temperature of 18-20 °.

Hibiscus sabdariafa (Hibiscus sabdariffa). It is an annual shrub, up to 3.5 m high, a branched plant with a root system deeply embedded in the soil. The stem and leaves are green with a reddish tinge. The leaves of the upper part of the shrub are smooth, palm-shaped, divided into 3-7 lobes with jagged edges; in the lower part of the plant, the shape of the leaves is oval. The flowers are very large, 5-7 cm in diameter, with a short pedicel and thick petals. In color, they are bright red with a dark purple corolla on the outside and dark purple on the inside. Yellow is found at the base of the petals, sometimes brown spot. After the flower wilts, the cups begin to grow, increase several times, and become juicy and fleshy, bright red in color. This species has long been known in the culture of tropical and subtropical regions the globe and is the closest relative of the Chinese rose. The history of its use goes back several millennia. Almost all the plant, except for the root, is edible and is used as food. Fresh leaves and young shoots rich in vitamins are added to salads, stewed with meat, seeds are roasted and used to make soups.

Cups of flowers are used to make tea, they are used to make jellies, sauces, compotes, they are used to color food, salted, pickled. This hibiscus also produces a dry extract, liquid syrup, and is used in pharmaceuticals. In nature, hibiscus sabdariffa grows in Sudan and in large quantities grown in Egypt, Ceylon, Java, Mexico, Thailand and China. It is generally accepted that the best microclimatic conditions in terms of humidity, temperature, day length, landscape of the area when growing hibiscus sabdariffa are in Sudan. The main area of ​​industrial cultivation of this type of nibiscus is the interfluve of the White and Blue Nile and their tributaries in the territory of the Republic of Sudan. It is in these places that the cups of hibiscus are produced, which are used for a quality variety of hibiscus tea. In Sudan, mainly shrub forms of Hibiscus sabdariffa var. sabdariffa (" sudanese rose"), in Egypt - tree-like Hibiscus sabdariffa var. altissima. The full vegetative growth cycle takes 5-8 months in duration. In initial stage development, the most favorable air temperatures at night should not fall below 21 C. In the first 4-5 months of growth, hibiscus sabdariffa requires 13 hours of daylight hours a day in order to prevent untimely flowering. AT initial period cultivation requires sufficient soil moisture with rainfall within 5-10 mm. Hibiscus flowering occurs as daylight hours and light intensity decrease. This period falls on September and subsequent months, depending on the country of cultivation, and continues until the time of flowering of the entire plantation. Collection of fresh, fleshy calyxes of flowers is carried out manually or by punching with a sharp metal tool before drying and opening the seed box. Drying - natural ventilation with protection from direct sunlight, they significantly reduce the quality of the product. This type of hibiscus is not very common in indoor breeding, and if you want to grow hibiscus sabdariffa at home on the windowsill, then you will have to run around flower shops to buy it, or, relying on luck, look for seeds in packs of hibiscus tea.

Syrian hibiscus, or Syrian rose, or ketmiya (Hibiscus syriacus). This is a deciduous shrub up to 4 m high with a dense crown, often formed in the form of a tree, with a grayish stem and velvety three-lobed toothed rhombic leaves.

It blooms in summer with white, bluish and lilac simple or double, seedless flowers up to 10 cm in diameter. Widely distributed as a beautiful, abundantly flowering ornamental plant in regions with tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climate. This species, resistant to slight frosts, is successfully grown in open ground in southern Europe, in the Caucasus, Crimea and in the southern regions of Ukraine. It is also cultivated as a house plant. Lives up to 100 (!) years. The people often call it “birch” - for the similarity of leaves with birch leaves. The Syrian hibiscus grows rather slowly, blooms and bears fruit from the age of three to four. Growing up, the bushes become more winter-hardy and withstand short-term temperature drops to 22 degrees below zero.

If you want to grow this hibiscus outdoors (for solitary and group plantings, creating hedges and avenues), consider the following: this species is intended for cultivation on the plains, it freezes out in the mountains. Syrian hibiscus easily tolerates transplanting and pruning (does not need strong pruning - in the spring they remove excess old branches and shorten too long ones). Propagated by cuttings, layering, grafting, seeds (the fruit is a multi-seeded box). For landing, you need to choose only sunny places - than more sun, the more abundant and longer flowering. It is not picky about soils, but, of course, it will thank you for the fertile and moist soil. He wakes up in May at a night temperature of at least 15 degrees. In order for the bush to become more magnificent, pinch the tops of the shoots. And be sure to pick off faded flowers so that the plant gives all its strength to flowering, and not to the formation of seeds. For the winter, tighten the bush with ropes and wrap it in cellophane or white burlap, without warming anything else. If you bought a plant grown from a cutting, it will bloom in the very first year after planting, and by the end of summer, a flower up to 10 cm in diameter will appear on each of its branches. diameter of a wide variety of colors: from white to crimson and even lilac with a burgundy center. Depending on the variety, the flowers can be simple and double, there are also unusual variegated varieties. Hibiscus grown from seeds bloom only in the 2-3rd year and do not guarantee the same size and color of flowers as the mother plant. With proper care, hibiscus is literally strewn with flowers (by the way, the original exotic flower Syrian hibiscus - a symbol of the island of Haiti). The indoor conditions of this plant are similar to the Chinese rose, and the main difference is manifested in the greater cold resistance of the Syrian hibiscus.

Hibiscus hybrid (Hibiscus hybrida). Appeared in culture relatively recently, was obtained by a talented breeder Fedor Nikolaevich Rusanov in botanical garden Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR in the 40s and 50s of the twentieth century, where the scientist was exiled during Stalinist repressions. In his work on the hybridization of herbaceous perennial hibiscus, he used North American species: bright red hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) - a typically subtropical species that does not withstand even not too cold winters; marsh hibiscus (Hibiscus mouscheutos) and armed hibiscus (Hibiscus militaris) are frost-resistant species, even in winters with temperatures down to -30 C, their roots remained unharmed. When these three species were crossed artificially, numerous frost-resistant forms of hibiscus with exceptionally high decorative qualities were obtained, which subsequently received the status of varieties.

Hybrid hibiscus is a heat-loving and moisture-loving herbaceous perennial with very large, bright, showy flowers. It is used to create large flower arrays, mixed borders, parterres, boulevards, edges, looks great along the banks of reservoirs. Most of the varieties bred by F. N. Rusanov are now lost. Only descriptions and color drawings of the author remained. Fortunately, some varieties have been preserved by flower growers in Stavropol and the Kuban, where hybrid hibiscus are quite common in gardens. But there is no longer that variety of shapes and colors that were bred by the author. But even what remains makes an unforgettable impression. Apparently, it is no longer possible to establish the correct names of the varieties. Conditionally preserved developments of Rusanov can be called: Red, Pink and Light Pink.

Red is a tall variety up to 3 m tall with palm-shaped leaves and wide funnel-shaped flowers up to 17 cm in diameter of red-carmine color. Pink is a medium-sized variety up to 2 meters in height with wide three-lobed pointed leaves and wide-open flowers of a rich pink tone. The size of the flowers is up to 23 cm in diameter. Despite its huge size, the corolla of the flower is very strong and strictly retains its shape. Light pink - a bush up to 2 meters high. The leaves are very similar to the leaves of the previous variety. The flowers are gigantic - 25 cm (even up to 27 cm) in diameter, pink with a silvery sheen. The flowers are more delicate than the previous two varieties and do not hold their shape well, especially in windy weather. But they are the largest and bloom a few days earlier than other varieties.

Hybrid hibiscus grows well in the southern regions, to the north it may not have enough summer heat for normal development and flowering. If desired, you can "deceive" nature with a simple agricultural technique. In the spring, a greenhouse is installed over the plantings of hibiscus, which provides more early development plants. As the shoots grow, the greenhouse is removed. It’s troublesome, but, you see, these hibiscuses are worth it. In late autumn, you need to cut off the shoots that die for the winter and spud at the base with fallen leaves in case of prolonged snowless frosts. In spring, the foliage is removed and the stems are cut low. Emerging young shoots are thinned out, leaving the most powerful, removing their tops for good tillering, this leads to the formation of compact, profusely flowering bushes. Hybrid hibiscus blooms in July-August, flowering ends with the first frost. On each shoot (and a bush can have more than a dozen of them), up to 50-80 buds are formed.

Marianne Broome

Sowing seeds of these hybrids does not give positive result. The offspring are inferior in their decorative qualities to the mother plant. The flowers are smaller and do not open wide. But hibiscus is very easy to cut. Cuttings will bloom the next year. For 6-7 years, the bushes grow strongly and must be divided. Do this in the spring, when the buds on the root collars of the plant begin to swell. In each division there must be a kidney and at least one good root, and all old and broken ones are cut out. The plant must be planted immediately permanent place. landing pit should be 40 cm deep and 50 cm in diameter. At its bottom, it is necessary to pour 10-15 cm of crushed stone to protect the roots from getting wet.

When planting hibiscus can not be deepened. On the trunk, this border is very clearly visible: the underground part is white, and the aboveground part is green. A place for landing should be chosen as sunny and protected from the winds as possible. Herbaceous hibiscus are undemanding to the soil. Very drought-resistant, but when watered, they develop faster, especially in the initial period.

P.S. Photos of flowers in all sections do not correspond to the description of the species, they are simply evenly distributed over the material.