Brief history of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis,
commonly known as the Rose of China, China Rose,
the Rose of a Day and Shoe Black Plant.

Although generally considered to be native of continental tropical Asia, the species is unknown in the wild and its area of origin is conjectural. It is believed to be from India due to the fact that Polynesian people are supposed to have originated in India and may have brought the species to China and the Pacific in the centuries of their Eastern migrations.

The Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is a flowering shrub of vigorous habit with glossy green, serrate leaves and mostly very large (5"/10cm average diameter), five petaled flowers from white to the darkest red and purple shades. With the constant hybridizing going on, new colors appear on a regular basis. Hibiscus are among the most showy flowers of the tropics, with over 5000 varieties in existence.

The Hibiscus make wonderful container plants for pots or tubs indoors, or on the patio in the warm season across the country. The plants must be brought in in cold weather.

Because it reached its highest development as an ornamental plant in China, the species was given its name rosa sinensis. Most cultivars were collected and shipped to Europe from there. These plants seem to have innumerable variations in color and shape in both single and double, and the hybridizing continues to this day, which add much to the joy and interest of hibiscus fanciers.

The common red single form of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is also known as "common red" and is the national flower of Malaysia and the State of Hawaii. In India, its flower, when crushed, turns black and yields a dark purplish dye used for blacking shoes, hence the nickname "Shoe Black Plant". In parts of China it is used to dye hair. Hawaiians eat raw flowers to aid digestion and the Chinese pickle and eat them. And, in Tahitian lore, the hibiscus worn over the right ear shows that a person is looking for a mate, and if over the left ear, a mate has been found.......

Care of Hibiscus:

All Hibiscus rosa-sinensis need good, regular feeding and the soil must be kept MOIST (not wet) at all times. Failure to do so will cause the buds to fall off. To prevent over feeding the plant should be taken out of its saucer and leached once a month. From May until early fall, the pot/tub can be kept outdoors, but not in direct sunlight. Rather, an east or north-west position is best. In the cool season, bring the plant indoors, and place in a sunny position. Keep feeding and watering regularly. If your plant has grown to quite large, cutting it back at this time would be good in order to support adequate foliage and prodigious bloom in the Spring. Being a tropical plant, it should not be kept any lower than 65^oF.