hibiscus

The Hibiscus rosa-sinensis flowering in cultivation in Israel. With their large, showy flowers, several hibiscus species are widely cultivated as ornamentals, but others are grown for their fibre and their edible pods (okra) and fruit.

Any of a group of plants belonging to the mallow family. Hibiscuses range from large herbaceous plants to trees. Popular as ornamental plants because of their brilliantly coloured, red to white, bell-shaped flowers, they include H. syriacus and H. rosa-sinensis of Asia and the rose mallow (H. palustris) of North America. (Genus Hibiscus, family Malvaceae.)

Some tropical species provide fruit and timber: H. tiliaceus supplies timber and fibrous bark to South Pacific islanders and H. sabdariffa is cultivated in the West Indies and elsewhere for its fruit.