ROSE
MALLOW
Family MALVACEAE
Hibiscus species
Annual
A genus containing hardy and half-hardy annuals
from the tropics, which are most attractive of
their kind.
Hibiscus trionum is known as the Flower-of-an-hour
and is reported as growing wild in Africa, and
has been naturalised in North America. It attains
a height of to feet, has elegantly lobed and toothed
leaves and flowers of sulphur-yellow, three inches
across, with purple centres that close in shadow.
Hibiscus esculentus, known in America as Okra or Gumbo,
grows six feet high, and has yellow flowers with
red centres which give way to edible fruits, twelve
inches long.
Although strictly a perennial, Hibiscus manihot is a
fine species, six to eight feet tall, with yellow
and purple flowers, very suitable for cultivation
as an annual.
All three species may be sown under glass, temperature
60º to 65º F., in February or March
for planting out in June. Seeds of Hibiscus trionum
may be sown outdoors in April where the plants
are to flower.
Ordinary soil suits, but position should be sunny.
Propagation is from seed.
The flowering season is in late summer.
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