Hibiscus mutabilis L.

Shrub to 2–3 m high (to small tree to 4 m high, fide Green 1994: 117). Branchlets with moderately dense to very dense stellate hairs (fine hairs 1–0.6 mm long), indumentum whitish to yellowish. Stipules narrowly triangular to very narrowly triangular, 5.5–7.5 mm long, 2–3 mm wide, with stellate hairs, later caducous. Mature leaves: petiole 45–220 mm long; lamina broadly ovate to orbicular, shallowly 3–7-lobed, 60–160 mm long, 70–250 mm wide, cordate base, serrate to dentate margin, acute to acuminate apex, discolourous, indumentum generally similar on both surfaces or more dense on the abaxial surface, indumentum similar on veins and interveinal regions, abaxial surface with stellate hairs (moderately dense) and glandular hairs, adaxial surface with stellate hairs (moderately dense, 8–50 rays), indumentum whitish; distal leaves reduced in size but not shape. Flowers solitary in leaf axils; pedunculate, the peduncle 4.5–7 mm long, with moderately dense stellate hairs; pedicel 6–8 mm long, with stellate hairs, pedicel marginally wider distally. Epicalyx segments 8–9, subulate, 12–18 mm long, shorter than the calyx at anthesis, connate at the base, fused portion 1–2 mm, straight, sometimes becoming recurved at the apex in fruit, segments 3-veined, with very dense stellate hairs, and moderately dense glandular hairs, abaxially and on fused portion. Calyx 17–25 mm long at anthesis, enlarging to 35 mm long in fruit; lobes triangular, the apex acuate, 8–20 mm long at anthesis, enlarging to 25 mm long in fruit, hairs dense on lobed portion only, middle portion of each lobe with moderately dense to dense, bi-armed, straight, appressed hairs, semi-erect near apex, and sparse to moderately dense, appressed to semi-erect, glandular hairs, outer portion of lobes with very dense, crisped or tangled-woolly, appressed to semi-erect hairs, lower portion of lobes glabrous, the indumentum whitish. Petals 37–70 mm long, adnate to staminal column at base but otherwise free, pink, with a red basal spot, adaxially with very sparse, ± erect, single or bi-armed stellate hairs, or sometimes nodular or glandular hairs, near margins, or on one side of petal only, or on one petal only, or glabrous; with sparse stellate hairs abaxially, on coloured portion of petal (hairs often coloured as well), the non-coloured portion of petal with odd scattered stellate hair, or glabrous; basally (where petals join) with 2–4-armed stellate hairs marginally, forming a dense fringe up to 5 mm each side of petal. Staminal column 14–15 mm long, apex 5-lobed, with the stamens usually distributed along the full length of the column; staminal filaments 2.5–3 mm long, anthers yellow, pollen yellow. Style 5-branched, with branches 1.5–4 mm long, exerted 7–10 mm beyond the apex of the staminal column, stigmas capitate, 1.3–1.5 mm wide, hairy, hairs 0.1–0.3 mm long, ovary hairy. Capsule broadly ovoid, 16–20 mm long, densely hairy all over with 4 types of hairs (very dense erect, short, stellate hairs, denser on midveins, sparse to moderately dense simple or bi-armed semi-erect hairs overtopping, some scattered glandular hairs, and tangled/crisped, dense hairs on inner margins of segments), capsule beak absent. Seeds subreniform, 2.3–2.5 mm long, with an indumentum of long pubescent hairs, the hairs whitish, 1.6–2.3 mm long, sometimes twisting together in clumps, flat sides of seed with shorter appressed hairs. [See also Green (1994: 117).]

A tropical plant. It grows best in light to medium, well drained soils. It needs an open sunny position. It needs a humus rich, fertile soil. It is damaged by frost and cannot tolerate drought. It needs a temperature above 13°C. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

The root is edible but it contains a lot of fibre. The leaves are eaten. They contain rutin. The leaves are boiled and eaten with oil and salt.

Plants can be grown by cuttings or seed. The germination of seed is fairly rapid and plants can be transplanted. They can also be raised by air-layering.