Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.

Shrubs or trees, 1–3(–5) m. Stems: new growth finely and sparingly stellate-or simple-hairy. Leaves: stipules linear to lanceolate, 8–16 mm; petiole usually to 1/3 blade, adaxial groove hairy with minute, ± sinuous hairs, sometimes villous; blade ovate, unlobed or only very rarely lobed, 5–12 × 3–8.5 cm, base rounded to cuneate, margins coarsely serrate in distal 2/3–3/4, apex acute to short-acuminate, surfaces glabrate, nectary present abaxially on midvein near base. Inflorescences solitary flowers, in axils of distal leaves. Pedicels jointed closer to flower, 4–9.5 cm, sparsely stellate-pilose or ± glabrous; involucellar bractlets 6–8, narrowly lanceolate to narrowly triangular, 0.3–2.2 cm, width varying in same flower, margins not ciliate, surface and margins puberulent or glabrate. Flowers showy, horizontal or declinate, sometimes double; calyx divided 1/2–3/4 length, narrowly campanulate, 2–3 cm, lobes triangular or narrowly so, apices acute to acuminate, often minutely, sparingly hairy, nectaries absent; corolla funnelform to rotate or petals slightly reflexed, petals usually red, sometimes pink, white, or yellow (or other colors in horticultural forms), usually darker at base, broadly to narrowly obovate, 6–10.5 × 4–6.5 cm, margins entire or crenate, often undulate, finely hairy abaxially mostly where exposed in bud; staminal column straight or moderately curved, usually red, often pink or white, 6.5–11.5 cm, bearing filaments in distal 1/2; free portion of filaments not secund, 3–9 mm, pollen yellow; styles red, pink, or white, 6–15 mm; stigmas usually reddish, sometimes golden yellow. Capsules seldom produced, brown, ovoid, 2.5–3 cm, apex rounded or beaked, glabrous. Seeds (rarely produced in cultivation), dark brown to black, reniform, 5 mm, minutely pubescent. 2n = 36, 46, 54, 63, 68, 72, 77, 84, 90, 92, 96, 112, 132, 144, 147, 150, 160, 165, 168, 180, 225 (all cultivars).

A tropical and subtropical plant. A common ornamental throughout the tropics. It originally came from China. It thrives on any type of soil. Different types are adapted to sunny or shady places. They grow where average temperatures are between 15-30°C. They are very sensitive to frost. They grow from sea level to 1000 m altitude. They probably require a minimum rainfall of 700 mm per year. It grows in Nepal to 1400 m altitude. It grows in open, moist places. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

The leaves are eaten cooked. In some places they are pounded before cooking. The flowers are eaten raw or pickled. They are also added to drinks. They are used to colour foods including preserved fruit, sliced pineapple, agar-agar jellies, and cooked vegetables. The fresh flower ovary is eaten.

It is mostly grown from cuttings or grafting.