Hibiscus surattensis L.
Wild Sour, Bush Althea, Bush Sorrel
Abelmoschus aculeatus, Abelmoschus rostellatus, Furcaria surattensis, Hibiscus aculeatus, Hibiscus appendiculatus, Hibiscus bifurcatus, Hibiscus hypoglossus, Hibiscus involucratus, Hibiscus trinitarius
Bloom Time: Late summer or fall
Hibiscus surattensis is a prostrate or scrambling, annual herb that produces stems up to 10 feet (3 m) long. All parts of the plant, including the weak stems and leaf stalks, are covered with small, downward-pointing, soft prickles and hairs. The leaves are rounded, up to 4 inches (10 cm) long and wide, deeply and palmately 3- to 5-lobed. The flowers are yellow, with a dark center, and occur singly in leaf axils. Petals are obovate, up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) long and up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) wide. This flower can be easily identified by its unique, false sepals. They are forked into a spoon-shaped outer part and a narrow linear inner part.
It is grown as an annual plant, so it has no USDA hardiness zone.
How to Grow and Care
Hibiscus should be moved outside in the summer, then back inside during the winter. Tips for a successful transition include: Trim the plant hard before moving it inside for the winter. It will go into near dormancy until late winter; After you trim it, but before you bring it in, treat it thoroughly for insects. Neem oil and liquid detergent work well, or use a hose to blast off insects; Once inside, don't overwater, but provide as much humidity as possible, including daily mistings. Don't expose to blowing air from vents. When the weather warms to above 50ºF (10ºC) at night, move it back outside and acclimate slowly.
Repot as necessary, yearly or biannually. Hibiscus will grow into trees in their native habitats, but this may be unwieldy in a home setting. There's also some benefit to keeping the Hibiscus in a relatively smaller pot, as it will make for easier pruning and moving. Failure to repot these plants often can leave them in soil without adequate nutrients for their survival, and repotting will often spur on growth if you're finding that your Hibiscus plants seem to have stalled out. Watch out for falling leaves or other signs of stress… – See more at: How to Grow and Care for Hibiscus
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