Hibiscus sinosyriacus L.H.Bailey

Shrubs deciduous, erect, 2-4 m tall. Branchlets stellate puberulent when young. Stipules filiform, ca. 12 mm, stellate pilose; petiole 3-6 cm, stellate puberulent; leaf blade cuneate, ovate, or orbicular, usually 3-lobed, 7-12 × 7-12 cm, papery, basal veins 3-5, both surfaces sparsely stellate puberulent, lobes usually triangular, central lobe larger, base cuneate, broadly cuneate, or nearly rounded, margin acutely serrate. Flowers solitary, axillary on upper branches. Pedicel 1-2.5 cm, densely yellow stellate puberulent. Epicalyx lobes 6 or 7, lanceolate-oblong, free, connate at base only, 17-25 × 3-5 mm, densely stellate puberulent, apex obtuse or acute. Calyx campanulate, longer or shorter than epicalyx, lobes 5, ovate-triangular, densely golden stellate puberulent. Corolla purplish, 7-9 cm in diam.; petals obovate, 6-7 cm, stellate villous abaxially. Staminal column 4-5 cm. Style branches 5, glabrous. Fruit unknown. Fl. Jun-Jul.

It is a subtropical plant. It prefers a well drained soil. It requires full sun. Plants can stand cool climates but flowers are damaged by frosts. In China it grows in valleys between 500-1000 m altitude.

Young leaves are eaten raw or cooked. A tea is made from the leaves and flowers. The root is edible but fibrous.

Plants are grown from seed. Seed are normally quick to germinate. Plants can be grown in a nursery and transplanted. Cutings can be used. Plants can be pruned if required although it is mostly not required.