False Roselle Hibiscus acetosella
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- hih-BIS-kus a-sey-toe-SELL-ah
- Description
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While you probably think of the flowers when you hear the name hibiscus, the foliage is what makes Hibiscus acetosella stand out. Rapidly adding 2.5 feet (maximum per season) across and 5 feet in height (maximum per season), they perform best in average to moist but not wet soil.
Places to Plant: Cottage garden, border, specimen plant, containers, or hedge are great places to plant Hibiscus acetosella. Even though it may be grown only as an annual, these locations could have more variety and foliage texture by adding Hibiscus acetosella. Pruning may have to take place if grown in a container. If you are wanting to add different colors to your landscape, add this plant (with its colorful leaves) with other plants that have green or silver leaves or grass blades. If you are growing this plant as an annual, Hibiscus acetosella could be a winter houseplant.
Wildlife Value: Members of the genus Hibiscus support the following specialized bee: Ptilothrix bombiformis.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Haight Ashbury’ (US PPAF)
leaves resemble marjiuana - ‘Jungle Red’
deeply dissected palmate leaves - 'Mahogony Splendor'
- 'Maple Sugar’ (US PP16,286)
burgundy black leaves - ‘Panama Bronze’ (PPAF)
deeply dissected purple-bronze - ‘Panama Red’ (PPAF)
deeply dissected bright red leaves and flowers - 'Red Shield'
most common, deep burgandy
- 'Haight Ashbury’ (US PPAF)
- 'Haight Ashbury’ (US PPAF), ‘Jungle Red’, 'Mahogony Splendor', 'Maple Sugar’ (US PP16,286), ‘Panama Bronze’ (PPAF), ‘Panama Red’ (PPAF), 'Red Shield'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Haight Ashbury’ (US PPAF)
leaves resemble marjiuana - ‘Jungle Red’
deeply dissected palmate leaves - 'Mahogony Splendor'
- 'Maple Sugar’ (US PP16,286)
burgundy black leaves - ‘Panama Bronze’ (PPAF)
deeply dissected purple-bronze - ‘Panama Red’ (PPAF)
deeply dissected bright red leaves and flowers - 'Red Shield'
most common, deep burgandy
- 'Haight Ashbury’ (US PPAF)
- 'Haight Ashbury’ (US PPAF), ‘Jungle Red’, 'Mahogony Splendor', 'Maple Sugar’ (US PP16,286), ‘Panama Bronze’ (PPAF), ‘Panama Red’ (PPAF), 'Red Shield'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hibiscus
- Species:
- acetosella
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Burundi to S. Tropical Africa
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Hibiscus support the following specialized bee: Ptilothrix bombiformis.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Winter
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are usually maroon (brownish-red) or crimson. These inconspicuous flowers are about 2 inches. Unlike most flowers, this plant generally does not bloom in spring and may not even bloom in summer: instead, blooming generally in late summer, fall, and sometimes in winter (short day plant), this plant gives color into your garden when you probably do not have many flowers growing. Depending on the type of Hibiscus acetosella, this plant may bloom in other seasons.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are usually maroon (brownish-red), dark purple, or crimson but some can have tints of green. This plant has palmate, (unequally) dissected, and lobed or unlobed leaves. While the leaves are interesting in themselves because of the color that they add to the landscape, if you really want to make them stand out, you could add lighter colored plants behind it to make this plant stand out; or grow it in a place where behind sunlight can make this plant really stand out in contrast to its dark leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Specialized Bees
