Practical
Plants

Hibiscus diversifolius

Swamp Hibiscus

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Hibiscus genus in the family Malvaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Malvaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
1 m
Spread
0.6 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Some caution should be observed when using this plant because there is a report that it might be used to procure abortions. We have no further details.

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaf buds - they are good either raw or cooked[1][4]. The young leaves can also be eaten, they are mild and quite mucilaginous, making a pleasant addition to the salad bowl[K]. Flowers - raw or cooked with other foods[3][4]. They have a very mild flavour and are very mucilaginous[K]. They make a very acceptable and beautiful addition to the salad bowl[K]. Root - it is edible but very fibrousy[1]. Mucilaginous, without very much flavour[1].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Abortifacient?[2].

Product or use
Abortifacient

Environment

Range
Tropics.
Habitat
Mainly by the coast, especially near rainforests, occasionally on disturbed ground in Australia in New South Wales and Queensland[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 10+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[5]. The seed germinates inside 2 weeks and should be potted up into individual pots as soon as it is large enough to handle. Grow the plants on fast in a fairly rich compost and plant them out in late spring after the last expected frosts[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. These will be difficult to overwinter unless kept in heated environment[K].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a well-drained humus rich fertile soil in full sun[5]. A frost-tender shrub, it can be grown as an annual in temperate climates where it can flower and set seed in its first year of growth[200, K]. Plants can also be overwintered in a cold greenhouse if the winter is fairly mild[K]. As the specific name of this plant suggests, the leaves vary widely in shape. The first leaves to be produced are semi-circular in shape, but later leaves are distinctly three-lobed[K]. Plants are self-fertile[K].

References

  1. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. Australian Medicinal Plants.

    ↩1↩2

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

Edit this page