Practical
Plants

Hibiscus syriacus

Rose Of Sharon

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
Growth rate
moderate
Height
3 m
Spread
2 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

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

Young leaves - raw or cooked[14][8][10][12]. A very mild flavour, though slightly on the tough side, they make an acceptable addition to the salad bowl[K]. A tea is made from the leaves[14][8][18] or the flowers[12]. Flowers - raw or cooked[21][2][12]. A mild flavour and mucilaginous texture, they are delightful in salads, both for looking at and for eating[K]. Root - it is edible but very fibrousy[5]. Mucilaginous, without very much flavour[5].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root
Product or use
Tea

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.

The leaves are diuretic, expectorant and stomachic[16][18]. A decoction of the flowers is diuretic, ophthalmic and stomachic[6][9][16]. It is also used in the treatment of itch and other skin diseases[18], dizziness and bloody stools accompanied by much gas[6]. The bark contains several medically active constituents, including mucilage, carotenoids, sesquiterpenes and anthocyanidins[19]. A decoction of the root bark is antiphlogistic, demulcent, emollient, febrifuge, haemostatic and vermifuge[16][18]. It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, abdominal pain, leucorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea[18][19] and dermaphytosis[6].

Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Antiphlogistic
Product or use
Antipruritic
Product or use
Demulcent
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emollient
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Styptic

Material uses

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

A low quality fibre is obtained from the stems. It is used for making cordage and paper[21]. The seed contains about 25% oil[21]. No further details are given, but it is likely to be edible. A hair shampoo is made from the leaves[21]. A blue dye is obtained from the flowers[7]. This species is planted as a hedge in S. Europe[20].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Hair care
Product or use
Oil

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China to India. Locally naturalized in S. Europe.
Habitat
Found wild on mountain slopes, though the original habitat is obscure[21].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
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 early spring in a greenhouse. Germination is usually fairly quick. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Some reports say that the seed can be sown in situ outside and that it gives a good rate of germination[22][23][4]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Good percentage[4]. Cuttings of mature wood, early autumn in a frame. Good percentage[4]. Layering in mid summer to early autumn[1].

Cultivation

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

Prefers a well-drained humus rich fertile soil in a sheltered position in full sun[15]. Succeeds in any soil of good or moderate quality[3]. Dislikes shade or badly drained soils[3]. Plants grow best with their roots in cool moist soil and their tops in a hot sunny position. This species is hardy to about -20°c[15] but plants only really succeed in the warmer counties of Britain because of their late flowering habit[13]. When planted in colder areas of the country, they will need protection for the first few winters[15]. The flowers only open in sunny weather[17]. Plants rarely require pruning[17], though they respond well to pruning and trimming and this is best carried out in the spring or just after flowering[17]. Plants are late coming into leaf, usually around the end of May or early June[11]. A very ornamental plant[1], there are many named varieties[11].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

  6. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  9. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  10. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩

  11. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩

  14. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  16. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩1↩2↩3

  18. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  19. Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0

    ↩1↩2

  20. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  21. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  22. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

  23. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6

    ↩

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