Hibiscus flower is the birthplace of the plant. Types of indoor plants Chinese rose and the rules for caring for them. Medicinal properties of hibiscus

Hibiscus are perennial and annual herbaceous plants, as well as shrubs and trees of the Malvaceae family.

Hibiscus: botanical description

Hibiscus is a deciduous or evergreen tree, shrub or herbaceous plant. It is very difficult to give an accurate description of the plant, as its genus has more than a hundred various kinds, which differ greatly in shape, color, and botanical features. However, they also have a lot in common. The leaves of the plant are usually incised, smooth, glossy with a short petiole. Their color can be green (and any shades of this color) or variegated.

Large, regular, graceful, crowned, simple or double flowers have a wide range of colors, which covers almost all colors of the rainbow spectrum. They can be red, yellow, blue, blue, burgundy, greenish yellow, lilac, purple and purple. In addition, some of them are painted in several colors at once.

After pollination, fruits are formed on the plant - five-leaved multi-seeded boxes with smooth or pubescent seeds inside. They can be used to propagate the plant next season.

Hibiscus: a bit of history

The first mention of hibiscus appeared in the Middle Ages. It came to Europe via the Silk Road through Pakistan from China and India. Very soon, the leading gardeners of Greece and the Middle East began the cultivation of the flower in gardens and parks. They also worked on the development of new forms and colors of the "Chinese rose".

By the 18th century, hibiscus had established itself in the top ten most common garden plants. However, the general fashion for hibiscus came a little later - with the discovery of indoor plant species in 1831.

Hibiscus: etymology of the name

The name of the plant comes from the ancient Greek word "hibíscos", which means "like an ibis". The ibis is a bird with a curved beak, whose natural range is considered to be the Middle East and North Africa.

Hibiscus also has a second name - "flower of death." This is due to the superstition that the flowering of a flower attracts death into the house. Moreover, it is endowed with such an ability, only indoor views plants.

Hibiscus: interesting facts

Hibiscus is a non-trivial plant, so over the years it has managed to acquire many interesting facts and myths. For example, hibiscus is often called the "Chinese rose" or "Sudanese rose", although it has nothing to do with the Pink family.

Some forks of the plant are completely edible. An example of this is the very “Sudanese rose”, from the flowers of which the famous refreshing and tonic Hibiscus tea is made.

Hibiscus is a very revered plant in many countries of the world. He deserved special treatment in Malaysia - his image is placed on the country's coat of arms.

Homeland hibiscus

The homeland of hibiscus is considered to be Southeast Asia and some Pacific islands, namely China, India and Malaysia. Nowadays, on the territory of these countries, you can find wild thickets of hibiscus that delight the eye. big amount colors.

Along the Silk Road, as well as after the colonization of most of the Pacific islands, the plant began its victorious march around the planet. Now hibiscus is grown almost everywhere. In warm latitudes - this is popular garden plant, in cold - room.

Hibiscus: application

Hibiscus is a flowering plant that is often used in decorative landscaping of parks, squares, gardens, open terraces, balconies and enclosed spaces. The abundance of species, shapes and colors allowed the plant to acquire a huge demand in landscape design.

Some types of hibiscus are quite edible, and not only flowers, but also leaves and shoots can be eaten. In traditional oriental cuisine, there are many fried and boiled dishes with the addition of this plant.

Speaking of hibiscus, one cannot fail to mention its Sudanese variety. The flowers of this plant are extremely beneficial for the body. They make a very tasty and healthy tonic tea, which has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular, digestive and nervous systems.

It happens that passing by a neighboring site, you can see small bushes strewn with flowers from early summer to late autumn. This - hibiscus syriac, or, as we call it - Chinese rose.

You always want to grow a plant of stunning beauty in your garden. But it often seems that growing such charm will require a lot of effort. In fact, this is not at all the case - hibiscus is very easy to grow and care for. I will tell you completely simple rules for planting, caring for and propagating Chinese roses.

Plant features

There are a great many types and varieties of Syrian hibiscus. You can choose a plant with a color that fits perfectly into your landscape. Hibiscus flowers can be double or regular - five-petalled. Both species are very beautiful and bloom equally abundantly. I have both terry and regular hibiscus in my garden. They are united by lilac color.

Hibiscus is grown most often in the warm regions of our country. But even in mid-latitudes, it will grow, and delight the owners with chic flowering. The shrub has a fairly large margin of frost resistance, it can withstand temperatures as low as 20 degrees.. However, in middle lane our homeland, it is best to provide the bush with good shelter. It is necessary in the late autumn to pour a layer of fallen leaves under it (10-15 centimeters). The hibiscus itself should be wrapped with agrofibre in two layers.

If in your city the temperature drops below twenty degrees in winter, it's okay. You just need to grow hibiscus at home, or dig it up for the winter and transfer it to a shelter (basement, room, covered porch). Then a beautiful plant will surely delight you with beautiful flowering next year.

My grandmother raised this exotic Syrian guest in a remote Siberian village. I don't know where she got it planting material, but I remember a tree in a huge pot as long as I remember myself. Her hibiscus always bloomed with beautiful orange flowers. Until now, I'm looking for a similar seedling. I haven't found it yet, but I'm not losing hope. Now there is such a variety that you can find anything. From June, the grandmother took out the Chinese rose outside, and in September he was returned home again, where he continued to bloom successfully.

Planting Syrian Hibiscus

In order for you to get a healthy and beautiful plant, you need to plant it correctly. And here it is important to follow a few rules.

1. The Chinese rose comes from the Mediterranean, so in our conditions it prefers places where there is a lot of sun. However a slight penumbra in the morning or afternoon will not hurt him at all. I know for myself that on ours, absolutely small areas it is almost impossible to find a piece of land that is constantly illuminated by the sun. I have hibiscus until lunch is in the shade.
2. The soil he likes is loose, not very acidic.. Before planting, we did this: in a large container (we have a container left after planting a large thuja) we mixed humus, sand and one shovel. The proportions were not respected. Humus does not happen much, hibiscus likes humus. The rest of the volume was added by earth from a dug hole.
3. The dug landing hole must be filled with water and wait until it is completely absorbed. Pour drainage into the bottom of the pit. Hibiscus is one of the plants that do not like it if water stagnates in the roots. As a drainage, I use what is at hand (broken brick, gravel, expanded clay, sand and gravel). You need to pour five centimeters.
4. Often the question arises - to deepen the seedling or plant higher? Hibiscus can be buried. In areas with a cool climate, it must be planted deeper. Deepening up to five centimeters above the root neck is permissible.

After landing water the seedling using at least ten liters of water. Loosen a little the next day. upper layer and put drainage under the plant. It can be bark, decorative gravel, or just grass that you pulled out on your site. For this purpose, I use beveled lawn grass which my neighbors generously share with me.

If there is no rain, the seedling should be watered every other day for about five to ten days to give the plant time to adapt to new conditions and prevent the root system from drying out.

Hibiscus Care

Hibiscus is a very unpretentious and undemanding plant. His enough to water once a week if the weather is dry and hot. If there is good drainage underneath, watering can be reduced to once every ten days. It's good if you can arrange drip irrigation then the ground under the hibiscus will always be wet. Once every two weeks, I do a sprinkling procedure for my plants to water the leaves.

Hibiscus can not be poured. It tolerates overdrying of the soil more easily than waterlogging.

Chinese rose needs pruning. It needs to be done once a year. In warm regions, the plant is pruned in the fall, and in cold regions this must be done. in early spring. The fact is that hibiscus flowers bloom on branches that have grown since spring, that is, on shoots. current year.

I leave about one-third of each branch on my hibiscus. In the spring, many new branches grow on them, which delight me with flowering from June to October.

The life of a hibiscus flower is very short - about one day. But due to the huge number of new buds, its flowering is practically not interrupted, not even for a single day. This creates little difficulty for those who grow hibiscus in the southern regions of our country. In faded flowers, seeds ripen, which actively germinate, falling on the soil. To prevent the chaotic growth of the plant, you need to regularly collect fallen flowers.

Hibiscus does not need special feeding. For my plants, the grass that I put under them is enough. It gradually rots and nourishes ornamental trees. For more lush flowering in the summer, once or twice a month, I feed them with fertilizers with phosphorus. In the fall, I definitely give potash fertilizer so that my hibiscus can more easily endure the cold.

Of pests most often pesters hibiscus, and whitefly. At first, having heard a lot of adherents of healthy gardening, I endlessly prepared all sorts of drugs according to the recipes of grandmothers-neighbors and the Internet. But all these infusions helped little. Eventually, I switched to insecticides, which garden stores offer in abundance. This has worked and my hibiscus are always kept free of pests.

The main thing is not to treat the plant with the same preparation twice in a row. It is necessary to change the composition of the poison so that the insects cannot adapt to it.

By following these simple rules for caring for a plant, you will become the owner of a beautiful shrub that will always be the envy of your neighbors and a reason to rejoice and admire the beauty - for you.

Putintseva Svetlana Nikolaevna, Russia, Krasnodar, photo by the author.

This legend is widely known in East Asia. She tells how the miraculous properties of the hibiscus flower were discovered to man.

Exhausted by the long journey through the jungle, the wanderer who had lost his way sat down to rest. He was hungry and thirsty. Sitting among the trees and bushes, he began to build a fire. Pouring water into the pot, he dreamed that the gods would send him food. Suddenly, from somewhere above, several red flowers fell into the pot, saturating the water with a ruby ​​​​red color.

The traveler ventured to try tea, which surprisingly turned out to be fragrant and tasty. Each sip gave him a surge of strength. A new sip brought back a feeling of cheerfulness. Leaving the jungle, the traveler took these wonderful flowers with him for the future. He distributed them to the people of those villages that he met on the way, talking about the amazing properties of the drink. A lot of time has passed since then, until the news of hibiscus tea spread around the world.

Hibiscus (Hibiscus). © Gary Williams

(Hibiscus) - an extensive genus of plants of the family Malvaceae ( Malvaceae). By different sources, includes from 150 to 200-220 species, some sources indicate up to 300. Hibiscus are wild and cultivated. Mostly shrubs and trees. There are also perennial and annual herbs. Distributed in the Old and New Worlds, in the subtropics and tropics. Bred by gardeners in a sharply continental climate.

The leaves are more or less incised, petiolate. The flowers of most types of hibiscus are large, graceful, with brightly colored corollas. The fruit is in the form of a box, which breaks up into 5 valves, contains many seeds, dressed in fluff or fibers, or smooth.

Hibiscus are considered to be native to 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. In Hawaii, hibiscus is considered the national plant, called the "flower of beautiful women." In Brazil, the single-leaf hibiscus grows, called “Princess Earrings”. He has split petals and a long pedicel, on which he gracefully sways, really resembling an exquisite earring.

Hibiscus in their places of growth serve not only for decorative purposes. Young leaves and shoots are eaten as vegetables. Seeds, leaves, fruits, roots are used in medicine. Necklaces are made from seeds. The flowers are used to make black hair dye and purple for Food Industry. Pieces of dried fruits Hibiscus sabdariffa (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is an indispensable component of fruit teas. It goes on sale under the names "Hibiscus Tea", "Mallow Tea", "Sudanese Rose", "Karkade".

Hibiscus sabdariffa, or Rosella (Hibiscus sabdariffa). © Dave Proffer

We have the most famous cultivated as a houseplant Hibiscus Chinese rose (Hibiscus rosa sinensis), or Chinese rosan from Southeast Asia. How vegetable spicy plants are grown in the southern regions Hibiscus edible (Hibiscus esculentus), or okra. In temperate areas, okra can be grown in greenhouses and conservatories.

Okra, or Okra, or Gombo, or Ladyfingers (Abelmoschus esculentus, formerly classified as Hibiscus esculentus)

Popular types of hibiscus

Hibiscus hybrid (Hibiscus hybridus)

Hybrid hibiscus are herbaceous perennials with very large, showy, showy flowers. They are propagated in the spring (with the onset of stable warm weather, when the buds on the root collars begin to swell) by dividing the bushes, green cuttings and grafting. These ornamental plants good for large flower arrays, mixed borders, parterres, boulevards, edges, banks of reservoirs, they are planted in glades in the park and among rare bushes in the southern regions of Russia.

Hibiscus Chinese (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

Chinese hibiscus, or Chinese rose, grows in East Asia and the Pacific Islands. Introduced to Europe in late XVII centuries. About 500 varieties are known. A very decorative evergreen shrub, the height of which (at home) reaches 3 m. Under the conditions of culture, it is a very well-known greenhouse, indoor plant. The leaves are dark green, glossy above, oval- or ovate-elongated, serrated along the edge. Chinese hibiscus blossoms early spring until late autumn. The flowers are large (12-16 cm in diameter), simple, semi-double, of various colors - from fiery and orange-red to pink and yellow, depending on the variety.

Hibiscus Chinese, or Chinese rose (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis). © floradania

Some varieties:

• Anita Buis - flowers are simple, yellow-orange.
• Florida - flowers are large (up to 14 cm in diameter), orange-red.
• Hamburg - flowers are large, double, carmine red.
• Rosa - semi-double and double flowers, salmon pink.

Hibiscus dissected-petal can be found under the synonym Chinese hibiscus, a variety - dissected-petal (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. schizopetalus). Homeland - Central Africa. Shrub with thin shoots and shiny green leaves. Red-orange flowers 5 cm in diameter with recurved petals, deep and uneven fringe. Greenhouse and houseplant.

Dissected hibiscus (Hibiscus schizopetalus). © erica

Syrian hibiscus comes from China, India. His original exotic flower- a symbol of the island of Haiti. They adorn themselves with local residents and numerous tourists. In some provinces of India, red and pink flowers are woven into wedding wreaths.

Syrian hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus). © m.sudarevic

Features of growing hibiscus

Bloom: Hibiscus blooms from spring to autumn.

Height: plant growth is fast.

Light: bright diffused, in the spring-summer period without straight lines sun rays. In the autumn winter period- good lighting, direct rays are allowed.

Temperature: moderate, in the spring-summer period +18..+22°С. Autumn-winter period - +14..+16°C, at temperatures below +10°C it can drop leaves.

Watering: during the growing season and flowering - plentiful, as the top layer of the substrate dries up. In the autumn-winter period, watering is moderate, two to three days after the top layer of the earth has dried. When the plant is kept (in winter) at temperatures below +14°C, the soil is kept moderately moist.

When watering, drying out and excessive waterlogging of the substrate should not be allowed.

Air humidity: does not play a significant role, but it is desirable to spray the plants, especially during flowering. This procedure is also a prevention against spider mites.

top dressing: in the spring-summer period, regular (1 time per month) fertilizing with nitrogen-containing mineral fertilizers(stimulate long flowering). In winter, only half-dose phosphorus-potassium fertilizer is applied once a month, or (with almost dry content in cool conditions) they are not fertilized.

rest period: November-February. Optimum temperature+14..+16°С, good lighting, moderate watering. It can winter in a circumcised state - in the fall, watering the plants is gradually reduced to a minimum and the leaves are allowed to fall, and then the stems are cut, leaving stumps of 7-8 centimeters. In this state, the hibiscus will overwinter in a cool place (+10 .. + 12 ° С) - so that the roots do not dry out, the soil of the hibiscus is slightly moistened from time to time

Transfer: young - annually in the spring. Adults cross once every three to four years.

reproduction: cuttings, rarely seeds.

Hibiscus. © floradania

Hibiscus care at home

Hibiscus prefers diffused light, without direct sunlight.

The optimal placement of hibiscus in the summer is windows with a western or eastern orientation. On windows with a southern orientation in the spring and summer, a plant is placed far from the window or diffused light is created with a translucent cloth or paper (gauze, tulle, tracing paper). Subject to the rules of care, it can grow well and even bloom on north-facing windows.

On warm summer days, hibiscus can be taken out into the open air (balcony, garden), but it should be protected from sunlight, rainfall and drafts. If you do not have the opportunity to place plants on outdoors, you should regularly ventilate the room.

In winter, hibiscus provide good lighting, shading is not required. You can create additional lighting by using fluorescent lamps for this, placing them above the plant at a distance of 50-60 cm, for at least 8 hours a day. In the autumn-winter period, it is also necessary to ventilate the room, but drafts should be avoided.

With a lack of lighting, the plant may sparsely or not bloom at all.

During the growing season and the flowering period, hibiscus is watered abundantly, as the top layer of the substrate dries up. In the autumn-winter period, water moderately, two to three days after the top layer of the substrate dries.

When watering, drying and excessive waterlogging of the substrate should not be allowed. Water from the pan, poured out half an hour after watering. Watered with soft and well-settled water.

Humidity does not play a significant role, but it is advisable to spray the plants. This procedure is also a preventive measure against spider mites. During flowering, especially on clear warm days, hibiscus are sprayed with warm, soft, settled water. In the autumn-winter period, you can spray the plants with warm water from time to time.

Hibiscus. © floradania

In the spring-summer period, regular (once a month) top dressing of hibiscus with nitrogen-containing mineral fertilizers is useful (this stimulates long flowering). You can feed with special complex fertilizers for flowering indoor plants, every 3 weeks. You can use "Rainbow", "Ideal", etc. It is very useful after watering with clean water to feed once a month with a fermented solution of bird droppings (1 part solution per 20 parts water) or liquid mullein (1 part infusion per 12 parts water). By mid-August, the amount of nitrogen is reduced in dressings. In winter, only half-dose phosphorus-potassium fertilizer is applied once a month, or (with almost dry content in cool conditions) they are not fertilized. Fertilizers are applied after watering.

In late April - early May, adult plants are transferred to large pots (1 time in three to four years). If the soil is not acidic and there are no pests in it, you can simply replace the top 5-centimeter layer of soil with fresh, nutritious soil. As soon as the flower reaches its maximum size in your conditions, do not transplant it, but carefully remove it from the pot and replace some of the soil. The soil for hibiscus is used close to neutral (pH about 6), light, nutritious. It can be prepared from 4 parts of sod, 3 parts of leaf, one part of humus earth and sand. Pieces are added to the mixture. charcoal. Do not use unripe manure and dry mullein. A mixture of soddy, humus earth and sand (2:1:1) may also be suitable. You can add a little peat and bone meal. Good drainage is needed, as the plant does not tolerate stagnant water very well.

Hibiscus are cultivated as large or small bushy or standard plants, the various crown shapes of which can be obtained by timely and correct pruning.

To increase the decorativeness of the crown and stimulate the development a large number young shoots that form flowers (flower buds in hibiscus are laid on the shoots of the current year), after transplanting (for young people) or replacing the topsoil (for adults), the plant must be cut to a bud at a distance of about 15 cm from the base. When new shoots begin to form, it is necessary to remove the weak ones and leave the healthiest ones.

To delay hibiscus flowering until autumn or winter, plants should be repotted and pruned in May. Until then, they should be dormant with very moderate watering. In July, cut again. As a result, flower buds are formed only in early autumn. The resulting pruning branches can be used for propagation.

Hibiscus is able to grow from the root. This property is convenient for those flower growers who have a shortage of light and space in the apartment, and because of which an extra pot with a flower in winter time nowhere to put. In autumn, watering the plants is gradually reduced to a minimum and the leaves are allowed to fall, and then the stems are cut, leaving stumps of 7-8 centimeters. In this state, the hibiscus will overwinter in a cool place (10..12 ° C) - so that the roots do not dry out, the soil of the hibiscus is slightly moistened from time to time, and after three or four months the plant will give fresh shoots. From now on, it must be exposed to light and watered, not forgetting to pinch the young shoots, as they grow very quickly.

Hibiscus. © floradania

Hibiscus propagation

Hibiscus are propagated by seeds and cuttings.

Hibiscus seeds are sown from mid-January to mid-March. Before planting, they are soaked for 12 hours in epin. Sow in a mixture of peat and sand. The bowl is covered with glass, the temperature is maintained at 25..27°C. The use of a mini-greenhouse or bottom heating contributes to better seed germination. Periodically sprayed and ventilated. When the seedlings have two or three leaves, they dive into pots of the appropriate size. Seedlings bloom and bear fruit at 3-4 years of age.

It is easy to propagate hibiscus cuttings. They are cut in June-August from the tops of a young growth with 2-3 internodes. Sections are treated with growth stimulants. The cuttings take root well after 25-30 days in indoor greenhouses with soil heated to 22..25 ° C (a mixture of peat and sand or pure sand) or in pots covered with a glass jar, or in water. After the roots appear, they are planted in 7-10 cm pots with a soil mixture of humus (2 parts), leaf and sod land and sand (1 part each), watered with warm water. It is good to add horn shavings and bone meal to the mixture.

For the correct formation of a hibiscus bush, pinch smaller shoots. Young plants grow very quickly, so they may need to transplant into a larger pot as early as a few months after rooting. In the future, they need to be transplanted annually into fresh fertile soil. Transplantation is carried out in early spring before flowering. Before this, it is useful to prune the plant, this stimulates abundant branching and flowering. Branches are cut to two-thirds or half of their length. With good lighting and abundant watering flowering plants can be obtained within 1 year.

Hibiscus. © Amy

Possible Difficulties When Growing Hibiscus

Buds appear on the plant, but do not open and soon fall off - the plant lacks nutrients; watering is not plentiful enough, the soil dries out a lot; low air temperature.

The lower leaves of the hibiscus fall off, new ones grow yellowish - chlorosis of the leaves has arisen due to the increased content of chlorine and calcium in the irrigation water, while nitrogen and iron are lacking (it is necessary to defend the water for irrigation and add iron chelate to it according to the instructions); root disease from hypothermia with abundant watering and low temperature; too dry indoor air combined with high temperature and insufficient spraying.

The absence of flowers in hibiscus in the presence of lush numerous foliage - the plant is overfed with fertilizers with a high nitrogen content; content in an insufficiently bright place; insufficient watering during the active growing season;
winter maintenance at quite high temperature.

Lack of lighting combined with excess nutrition can cause dirty pink spots on the leaves.

Cold soil can dry out the roots of the plant.

With a lack of moisture, the leaves droop and become lethargic.

Damaged by: aphids, thrips, whiteflies, spider mites.

China rose is one of the best plants for home gardening. Moderate demands on the conditions of detention, exotic appearance and bright flowers- the main advantages due to which this "tree" has become very popular among residents of the central strip and more northern latitudes. However, at home, many signs are associated with a flower. For example, the Chinese say that the hibiscus is the flower of death.

The presence of a large number of signs is quite understandable. How home flower in the northern countries began to be grown only some half a century ago. But in more southern latitudes, this plant is well known, has more than 300 varieties, most of which easily tolerate growing in a pot.

First of all, hibiscus has become popular due to its beneficial properties. In India, for example, there is a legend about the origin of the beloved hibiscus tea. The exhausted dear wanderer made a fire, put a pot of water on it and began to pray to the gods for help. In response to his pleas, flowers fell into the pot, turning the water bloody (it is possible that because of this circumstance the flower received the eerie name "bloody" hibiscus). The traveler was not afraid to drink a strange drink and felt his strength return to him again.

Later, scientists began to study the flower and found that it is a real storehouse of vitamins and trace elements. Perhaps it is this circumstance that makes the shrub so popular among the inhabitants of the tropical and subtropical climate. And each country tries to attribute its origin to itself.

So, in Sudan, this plant from the mallow family has been grown on special plantations for several centuries in a row. Sudanese rose, rosella or hibiscus sabdarif in nature can reach 5 m in height. But when grown at home, Sudanese hibiscus is limited to 2 m. Another fundamental difference is that indoor plants are not suitable for tea production. But in terms of decorative properties, the Sudanese hibiscus surpasses many potted plants:

• Sudanese varieties are distinguished by bright green foliage;
• the length of the sheet can reach 15 cm;
• the petals of the Sudanese varieties are always with a torn edge;
• the color of the bark, depending on the variety, may be gray or brown.

Directly in Sudan, there will be no signs associated with this flower. Unless, of course, we take it as a sign that its successful cultivation provides the Sudanese with raw materials for making tea, sweet dishes, and allows them to raise their economic situation through the sale of "hibiscus".

Useful aphradisiac

Another one useful variety- musk hibiscus. Unlike the Sudanese rose, it is not possible to brew tea from this variety. But the aroma of hibiscus abelmoschus is able to cure frigidity and impotence. Distinguishing musk varieties is easiest:

• height houseplant does not exceed 2 m;
• leaves are large, densely covered with hairs;
• flowers are dark yellow with a scarlet core;
• the seed pods are also covered with thick hairs, and the seeds themselves are gray in color and exude a strong odor.

Amber seeds are actively used in the manufacture of perfumes and cosmetics.

In addition, the substance obtained from the seeds of this plant replaces animal musk and, to a large extent, reduces the cost of the product. In addition, musk hibiscus oil helps improve digestion, eliminate headaches, relieve itching, eliminate bad breath, relieve spasms, and help with depression.

However, the main signs associated with musk hibiscus relate to marital relations, the sexual strength of partners and childbearing function. For the same reason, it is better to place the plant directly in the bedroom.

Fairy of colors and shapes

Add exotics home interior help "aliogina" or blue hibiscus. The variety is close to the Syrian varieties, but differs in color. hybrid variety, has large flowers saturated of blue color and lowered, like a real mallow, leaves (outwardly similar to the leaves of a Chinese rose).

If you want to "blush" garden plot, then it is better to choose from varieties of Syrian roses. good addition landscape design will become low (up to 2 m) Blue Satin. A very spectacular variety with large (up to 12 cm) flowers, abundantly decorating the plant from late spring to early autumn. This variety tolerates pruning well, suitable for standard cultivation.

A stunning effect will be produced by blue hibiscus, planted in one container with varieties of a different color.

Hibiscus Linden is the most unusual member of the genus. This hibiscus is a tree, which, depending on the variety, as well as the landing site, can reach 7 m in height. The variegated hibiscus got its name for its similarity with linden. Spreading branches with large (about 30 cm) heart-shaped leaves are decorated with large chameleon flowers. During the day, the flowers delight the eye with a yellow scattering, but by the evening the color of the inflorescences changes to red. Some species of this plant are susceptible home growing and are very popular with lovers of Japanese culture and bonsai trees.

You can use flowers of this variety for medical purposes:

• good for bronchitis;
• contribute to the treatment of tonsillitis;
• heal abscesses.

If you propagate this flower by seed, you can get various varietal variations up to terry. However, terry hibiscus is not a single variety. Terry varieties are found regardless of color and varietal affiliation.

For example, yellow terry hibiscus - most clearly represents the mallow family. And it is a typical variation of the Chinese rose. Only unlike the latter, it has larger, decorative flowers. By the way, the Chinese rose itself, which was popularly called the bloody hibiscus and overgrown with legends, in fact, is related not only to China. The homeland of hibiscus is southern China, tropical Asia and subequatorial islands. Among which can be called Hawaii, where the flower has been elevated to the rank of national treasure.

Hawaiian hibiscus is a tragic story beautiful flower. Now this species is almost completely exterminated and is rarely found in the wild. It is not difficult to guess that the Hawaiian hibiscus is in front of you, as this small tree (up to a maximum of 1 meter) looks very attractive. Oval leaves resemble ficus leaves - glossy, concave with a medium color intensity. The flowers on the tree are rarely scattered, but they are large enough and painted in bright red.

Fans of greater constancy can be advised variety - sunset yellow. The plant looks incredibly gentle. Hibiscus yellow - as if created from the air and the most delicate lemon fibers. The life of this flower is limited to only one day. But new inflorescences decorate the bush quickly enough.

rainbow mood

One of the brightest indoor representatives of the mallow family is hibiscus gabriel. Its distinguishing feature is a huge flower up to 15 cm in diameter, changing color depending on the conditions of detention and the season. The variegated "gabriel" can be gray-lilac with a beige edging, or it can please the grower with a purple flower, framed along the edge with a bright yellow stripe. The leaves of this variety are glossy, regular oval in shape.

Tahitian is the royal hibiscus, which is absolutely true. Corrugated, with soft waves, like a royal mantle, the petals of this variety are painted in a spiral. And the palette combines three colors (for one flower) and varies from maroon to faded gray. This hibiscus is a standard variety.

An amazing and unusual variety of cherry. Its highlight is in bright contrast. Red inner part flower as if poured on top of perfectly white and thick cream.

hibiscus gabriel hibiscus tahitian hibiscus cherry

Versatile and delicious hibiscus

If you love unusual plants, the following variety of hibiscus is just made for you. Mahogany splendor aka sour hibiscus, aka Hibiscus acetosella. Sometimes, due to some similarities with common oxalis, it is called oxalis. Due to its pleasant sour taste, this type of hibiscus is used in some countries as vegetable crop replacing sorrel. The flower got its name - the maple-leaved Mahogany flower thanks to the unusual, reminiscent of Chinese maple, foliage. And thanks to the unusual, red color of the leaves, the people still call this variety - red-leaved.

Hibiscus sour is rightfully very popular. This is a short-lived, but very decorative looking shrub. The motley, carved and dense crown of the flower will easily decorate any garden, and the pleasant taste will delight gourmets.

This variety does not have clear characteristics. Scientists explain this by the hybrid origin of the shrub. And it was discovered by a French botanist on the African continent, which is why the plant was originally called African mallow for a long time.

Despite this, splendor tolerates sub-zero temperatures well, but in the climate of northern latitudes it is grown as an annual crop.

No less impressive are the leaves of the hibiscus schizopetalus or dissected hibiscus variety. This species is also close to Chinese varieties. It is a shrub with thin drooping lashes. The beauty of the variety is in its unusual colors of red, orange or mixed color. Small in size, only 8 cm, the flowers amaze with an unusual shape - the dissected petals are curled and bent back.

pink dreams

You can decorate the balcony and window sill with Cooper's hibiscus. This variety is beautiful not only during flowering, when the branches are decorated with large flowers of deep pink color, but also during the dormant period. The second name of the flower is variegated hibiscus. The foliage of the plant is a regular oval white-green color.

Smaller cuts can be supplemented with Copper King or swamp hibiscus. This is a small herbaceous plant with light pink and very large flowers. The white variety also looks good.

Hibiscus varieties natalie - will add porcelain perfection to the interior. Its large, tubular flowers with raised tips and deep pink color always look flawless. Natalia will best fit into the interiors of the classical style.

The s joy variety is distinguished by a greater saturation of colors and will suit natures who are accustomed to constantly being in motion. In addition, the pink-orange large flowers of this hibiscus will always remind you of a hot and sunny summer.

Hibiscus allure is a real indoor rose. A stuffed clover-colored bud with a fine cut will not leave indifferent true connoisseurs of beauty.

Let's add some color

Discreet, cool metallic blue hibiscus is a great addition to offices.

But flame crazy is its complete opposite. Huge, as if made of paper, crazy flowers exude a breathtaking acid pink color around them.

Hibiscus voodoo magic - this hybrid is created for those who love stories about magical, distant lands and African romance. Orange-brown like the setting African sun, voodoo flowers amaze the imagination with their size. With proper care, voodoo magic is able to give the owner flowers up to 17 cm in diameter.

Hibiscus black dragon is a variety for true connoisseurs and experienced flower growers. The noble dragon strikes, first of all, with the depth of a dark cherry color, cast in the sun with blue-black colors.

For beginner flower growers, the fireball variety will be an excellent option. Herbaceous hybrid, very unpretentious to growing conditions, cold-resistant and beautiful. Its flowers, in size and shape, really resemble fireballs.

Fans of seed reproduction should pay attention to another herbaceous variety - hibiscus ice cream. A plant with relatively small (only 6 cm in diameter) flowers is able to retain decorative properties for a long time. During flowering, hibiscus pleases with creamy flowers with a chocolate core. And after flowering, the plant is decorated with unusual pods.

Russian selection

In the 50s of the last century, the Russian breeder F. Rusanov brought out a stunning herbaceous variety, which was called Rusanov's hybrid or hibiscus. This plant combines the qualities of three North American varieties at once. The leaves resemble maple, the flowers are very large and look like Chinese rose inflorescences.

The variety can winter in open field in conditions of northern latitudes

For the winter, Rusanova's hibiscus sheds its leaves, and in the spring, shoots appear again from powerful tubers. It is better to choose sunny and open places for the plant.

However, the most famous in our country was and remains the Chinese rose or hibiscus - the flower of death. It has been observed that hibiscus begins to lose leaves, or bloom at the wrong time for it, if its owner is terminally ill. Some flower growers also claim that the plant helps to pay attention to their health in time and undergo an examination before the disease develops.

True, signs do not always work, but hibiscus grown in the house will really benefit health. This plant ionizes and purifies the air well. And, according to psychics, it fills the apartment with positive energy.

The genus is ancient Greek. the name of the stock-rose is Alcea rosea L. About 300 species distributed in tropical and subtropical regions.

The hibiscus bush lives 20 or more years, lends itself well to molding: at the end of winter, the stems are cut to increase branching.

G. Chinese, Chinese rose - H. rosa-sinensis L.
Evergreen shrub or small tree up to 4.5 m tall with brownish, sometimes almost black bark on old shoots. Leaves up to 15 cm long, alternate, petiolate, ovate or oval, at least in the upper half serrate, glabrous, shiny. Flowers axillary, solitary, on long pedicels, at the base of their several linear bracts. Calyx funnel-bell-shaped, green, up to 3 cm long. The corolla is separate, up to 10-12 cm in diameter, five-membered, of various colors - from white to yellow and dark purple. The staminate filaments fuse into a tube that protrudes far from the flower and contains a pistil column topped with a stigma protruding above the tube. Blooms almost all year round. The flowers only bloom for a day or two, but proper care new flowers will appear from spring to autumn. Natural flowering time is winter. Homeland - Southeast Asia (South China) and Polynesia, northern India. In a culture before 1831, numerous garden forms are known, differing in the degree of doubleness, size and color of flowers.

Location

bright and sunny in summer, but protected from direct sunlight during the midday hours. In the air it can be in the sun. It winters in a bright place at a temperature of 14-16 degrees, which has a positive effect on future flowering, but it can also grow at a temperature of about 20 degrees.

Lighting
Bright light

Watering
in summer - plentiful, the soil must always be moist. In winter, at a cool location - limited. The drying of the earthy coma causes the dropping of flower buds. A plant wintering at a higher temperature needs frequent spraying.

Air humidity

Moderate

Humidity: additional information

When the air is too dry, the leaves shrivel. Needs spraying.

Care
The plant is unpretentious, kept in winter at a temperature of 12-18 degrees. Light-loving. Needs pruning. It grows quickly, forming a spreading bush. in summer, plants need a lot of light (but not direct sunlight), daily spraying and top dressing. In winter - moderate watering and keeping in a cool place.

Young plants should be repotted annually and then as needed. To give the plant a decorative shape, it should be cut. Hibiscus reacts to changes in the angle of incidence of light by dropping flower buds. Excessive watering or drying out of an earthy coma, a sharp fluctuation in temperature or a lack of light also cause the buds to drop. With insufficient air humidity, the leaves wrinkle.

The plant grows well in hydroponics.

reproduction

In July-August, green apical cuttings with 2-3 internodes are cut, planted in pots and covered 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), leafy (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.

Transfer
At any time of the year in a soil mixture consisting of equal parts of sod, leaf and humus soil. you can add some sand. When planting, hibiscus branches are cut to 1/3 of the length. This enhances the growth of young shoots and the plant looks more beautiful.

Possible difficulties

The main pests are spider mites and aphids. drafts and drying out of the soil can be inas.

Falling buds
The most likely cause is drying out of the soil. Other causes may be nutrient deficiencies and sudden changes in temperature.

The leaves are wrinkled
The reason is that the air is too dry. Spray the leaves in spring and summer.

Leaves are falling.
The most likely cause is drying out of the soil. Other reasons may be drafts and drying out of the soil.

Beneficial features

In countries of natural growth of hibiscus, its young leaves and shoots are eaten as a vegetable dish, dried flower petals are part of Sudanese Rose and Hibiscus teas. The flowers are used to make black hair dye and purple for the food industry. Hibiscus is also used in medicine: the leaves and flowers, ground into a homogeneous mass, help with malignant tumors, the pulp from the flowers is used to treat carbuncles, ulcers of malignant origin.

Thematic links

▪ http://florus.com/komn/kom_h10.html
▪ http://www.corbina.com/~galkao/malva/HIBISCUS.htm
▪ http://www.trop-hibiscus.com/index.html
▪ http://www.hibiscus-hawaii.dk/

Gallery