Hibiscus International #10

Spring came early to Louisiana. We only had two really bad cold snaps in the Baton Rouge area, but the cold is intense enough to kill hibiscus and other tropicals. Usually Easter is the sign that spring has arrived. As I write this, we are one day away from Palm Sunday, and last night was hopefully our last night where 30s entered the area. In fact, today is so beautiful that I couldn’t resist getting out in the yard and doing some transplanting. I took several plants from my front yard and moved them to the back. I spend most of my time in the tropical area. It’s quiet, peaceful, and just the way I want it. When you raise so many plants in pots, you can determine how your color arrangement scheme is going to work out. I have lots of rooted cuttings that I will use in grafting this year, and I’ve lots of seedlings from Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia. I’m very pleased to say that I lost very few plants this past winter. They were all beginning to look a little tired at being inside for so long, so I moved them out a little earlier than I usually do. Of course, they all had to come back inside, but now they are out until our next frost, probably in late November, which aids in the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday. I’m hoping for a lot of colorful blooms and am especially looking forward to great blooms from all the new varieties I have. Naming them and giving proper credit to the hybridizers is, of course, the first priority. Hopefully, by the time of our hibiscus show in July, I will have lots of beauties to help me win bunches of ribbons. It would please me very much to win with a seedling with an international connection. After all, we are the biggest and the best group of the caring and sharing people on the Internet. Winning in this way would really mean a lot to me. Now, it’s back to the garden. For you in the northern hemisphere, have a wonderful blooming season, and for all of you hibiscus fanciers in the tropics and below the equator, have a nice winter and keep all your beauties safe from nature’s storms.

As most of you know, I am on a world tour. I’m writing this message while in Thailand. This is, of course, the trip of a life time, and it has been marvelous too in that I have met so many of you and seen hibiscus I had only dreamed of before. It has been a great hibiscus learning experience.

As to IHS matters, our CD in still in the editing stages, but we are hopeful that it will be ready shortly after you read this. Without belaboring the subject, I believe I speak for all who are involved and have seen the working copy (which includes the IHS Board of Directors) in saying that I feel it is going to be a must-have reference for virtually any and all hibiscus enthusiasts. It contains information that all will find useful regardless of their experience.

Of course, the major pending IHS event is the nomination of officers to form the next board of directors. The nomination committee has been formed and is doing their work and elections will follow in due order so that the IHS can continue its evolution.

I think that in its less than two years of existence we have accomplished a great deal, but I’m hopeful that these accomplishments will pale in comparison to what might follow in the coming years.

Of course, don’t forget the upcoming TPC, Trimestial Photo Contest. The deadline for one was April 30th and the deadline for the next is August 31st. Unless there has been a change, Nadeen will be organizing this as per last time so entries should be sent to her at zyan@mb.sympatico.ca. For details, check out our web site under Member Activities. As in the past, the winner will be awarded a genuine cultured Tahitian black pearl.

(This series is being compiled by Colleen Keena from Queensland, Australia, Kristin Yanker-Hansen from California, USA, and Marcos Capelini from São Paulo, Brazil. We hope you can share your experiences of growing the featured plants so that we can all learn more about growing mallows in varied locations.)

DESCRIPTION

Hibiscus tiliaceus can attain a height of up to 8-10 m (26'-32') and can grow just as wide if not pruned. It is a common tree along the coast in its native and naturalized ranges, and in the wild it is found near watercourses, mangrove swamps and estuaries, frequently forming impenetrable thickets and covering very large areas along coastlines. It is therefore particularly suitable for sandy and moist soils, although it will also grow well under drier conditions and in a variety of soils. It can also stand brackish water and is tolerant of salt spray, and therefore it is an excellent species for coastal areas.

The trees are very ornamental, with large heart-shaped leaves and dense foliage. The leaves are usually dark green, but there are selections available with variegated or purplish foliage.

Photo by Marcos Capelini
Beautiful Mallow Tree

H. tiliaceus tree found in Brazil on a visit to a charming village on the coast. Ivanete, Marcos’ wife, was dwarfed by it. The calculated height was about 8.6 metres, and the diameter of the trunk was about 45 cm.

Photo by Marcos Capelini
Hibiscus tiliaceus in Brazil

The hibiscus-like flowers are bright yellow with a crimson center, and usually point down on the tree or slightly sideways. They are about 10-15 cm (4"-6") wide when fully-open and usually last a single day only, falling off at the end of the day or the next morning, when lots of day-old flowers can be seen on the ground.

Photo by Geoff Keena
Hibiscus tiliaceus in Australia

Nectary (under leaf)
Photos by Marcos Capelini
Three variegated leaves

Like some other plants in the mallow family, the flowers change color as they age, turning dull orange or reddish by the time they fall. In winter, there may be few or no flowers in mild-tropical or subtropical climates, but the flowers may remain on the tree for more than a single day, creating an interesting effect as both yellow and reddish flowers can be seen on the trees at the same time.

PROPAGATION AND CULTIVATION

H. tiliaceus can be propagated from seed or cuttings. Since seeds are normally dispersed via water, they can benefit greatly from soaking in warm fresh water for at least 24 hours prior to planting. Filing the back of the seed with an emery board or sand paper before soaking is also helpful, but care must be taken not to reach the tender embryo inside the seed.

After the soaking period, the seed can be planted in a sandy medium, which should be kept on the moist side. Seedlings will usually emerge in a week or two and should receive plenty of light from the start. The seedlings can reach between 60 cm and 80 cm in the first year and will grow very fast after that if planted in good soil and kept well watered, although they may take a number of years to mature and start to produce blooms. Propagation by seed may be a good option if it is difficult to obtain a plant in your area or where the soil is limited, e.g. over sandstone, as the tap root of the seedling can anchor the plant.

Photo by Marcos Capelini
Hibiscus tiliaceus pods

In most cases however, cuttings may be the preferred way to propagate H. tiliaceus, since plants grown from cuttings will usually have exactly the same characteristics as the original plant. Desirable traits such as floriferousness and color of the foliage (for the variegated and purple-leaved varieties) will therefore be safely reproduced in the propagated plants. Another advantage is that plants grown from cuttings will flower much sooner than seedlings.

Growing H. tiliaceus from cuttings is very easy, and in tropical areas cuttings will strike year round, although in subtropical climates it may be better to avoid the colder months. Tip cuttings or hard-wood cuttings between 20 and 40 cm in length and .5 to 1 cm thick will usually root very well. Commercially available rooting hormones can be used with success, although they are not strictly necessary. Cuttings also appear to root faster if two or three leaves are left on. The hobbyist may want to use a transparent plastic bag over the cuttings to keep the moisture in, but the cuttings should be checked regularly for yellow leaves and fungus. Under favorable weather, rooting may take place in less than a month, and it may be a good idea to use a transparent container so you can check on the state of the roots.

Hibiscus tiliaceus is a fast-growing tree, which is best suited to landscaping, although it can be kept in containers if properly pruned and potted up as necessary. It can be also grown successfully as a bonsai. This plant prefers full sun but can be grown indoors if placed by a window where it can get as much sun as possible, preferably in the morning, although it may be very difficult to get flowers indoors. Potted plants will require regular fertilizing with a balanced fertilizer, but it is unlikely that inground plants will require fertilizer. It is not cold hardy and is usually recommended for USDA zone 9b and above. In sub-tropical areas it can recover from very light frosts.

Photo by Geoff Keena

It is frequently planted as a street tree as it has such a dense, shady canopy. It can be trained as a standard and is used as a standard to provide shade in car parks in Brisbane shopping centers and at Brisbane airport in Australia, for example. Regular pruning and sucker removals are necessary for the trees to keep a good shape.

As it is a fast growing medium-sized tree capable of suckering, especially if given plenty of water, consideration should be given to where it is planted. It should only be planted where there is no possibility of damage to structures such as pavements or pools.

Hibiscus tiliaceus is listed as invasive in Florida and has naturalized elsewhere, so care should be taken to prevent it from spreading in areas where it is not native. If in doubt, local regulations should be checked.

USES

Besides being such a great ornamental tree, Hibiscus tiliaceus has many traditional uses around the world. In Tahiti, the leaves were wrapped around food to be cooked and were also used as plates. The leaves are fed to cattle in Southeast Asia.

The roots and young shoots are reportedly eaten by the aborigines in Queensland. The Polynesians eat the young leaves and use the bast fibers to make ropes and the adult bark to make "tapa," a traditional clothing used in pre-European Polynesia.

A Singaporean source states that the fiber is used for strings and ropes for making fishing nets and caulking boats. In Hawaii the wood is used to make outrigger canoes.

Several medicinal uses are listed as well, including to cool fevers and soothe coughs (leaves), treat dysentery (bark), ear infections and abscesses (flowers), as laxative (bark and flower), etc.

The light timber is attractively patterned and easily worked.

Photo by Richard Johnson
Hibiscus tiliaceus flowers on ground in Tahiti

REFERENCES

"Wildflowers of South-eastern Queensland", Volume 1, Beryl A. Lebler, Senior Botanist, Botany Branch, DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, Brisbane, Queensland, 1977 S.R. Hampson, Government Printer, Brisbane.

"Talipariti (Malvaceae), a segregate from Hibiscus". Paul A. Fryxell. Contributions from the University of Michigan Herbarium, Vol 23, pp 225-270, 2 July 2001.

ONLINE REFERENCES

Describes three varieties of H. tiliaceus found in Tahiti, along with its uses by the Polynesians

Excellent info fact sheet, mentions several uses and has a list of links and references. By Ria Tan, from Singapore.

Short description and uses (Hawaii). Listed as a Polynesian introduction in Hawaii.

Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii Vol. 1 Section 64 - Malvaceae, on the site of the Hibiscus Society of Queensland Inc., Australia

"Florida Exotic Plant Pest Council" website, where H. tiliaceus is listed as invasive.

SEED AND PLANT SOURCES

B & T WORLD SEEDS (seeds sent world-wide)

Tradeswinds (seeds, US)

Aloha Tropicals (plants, Hawaii) Offers the "Tri-Color Hau". Short info sheet.

Ho-Ti Nursery (plants, Hawaii)

Glasshouse Works (plants, US) Trades the variegated "Tricolor" variety.

Fairhill Native Plants and Botanic Gardens (plants, Australia)

On the Right Wave Length
Towards Growing Hibiscus
Tuning in on the Right Frequency With Jim Purdie
By Gloria White

Last year, I had the pleasure of interviewing seven Australian hybridizers of the Queen of the Tropics. These growers and hybridizers have diverse collections and are prolific providers of what hibiscus has to offer us as a flower. From Reg Cornwell of Maroochydore, who achieved two HOTYs back to back to Wally Morgan of Maryborough, who is known for his Sports. There is Les Beers who has written books in praise of these flowers to Richard Mansbridge from Maroochydore, who is, relatively speaking, a youngster in hybridizing.

The Land of Oz must be a haven for our favorite flower, and she shows us her pleasure with gems of many colors on the Oz show benches. Every time I see the efforts of these men and women who are working hard to provide hibiscus lovers with new plants, I marvel at how hard it really is to find those special hibiscus. The flower is not just an APF (another pink flower) but a gem in the true sense of the word.

I am in awe of the people who work hard to learn to hybridize and master other things that are new to them. One person who I have to say is an example of how you can teach a young dog new tricks is Jim Purdie of Brisbane. Jim is amazing. A year ago, he did not own a computer. Now, not only does he manage to converse with people all over the globe, he can design pretty complex web pages for us to enjoy. Jim is my role model in this field! If Jim can do this, I am certainly going to make a go at web design myself.

Jim Purdie is Brisbane born and even though he told me his age, I find Jim to be young at heart. After attending Wooloowin State School, he attended Industrial High school, where WWII interrupted his education. Jim started work as a typewriter repairman for Chartres Ltd for a 10-year period. Jim fixed typewriters during the war for Australian and American Forces in Oz. Jim studied radio and radiogram repair and began a new chapter in his life until the advent of television. He learned to repair televisions and was made Manager of the Gold Coast Branch on a repair firm where he worked for the next ten years.

He left the firm to start a new venture for himself and his wife, Ruth. The two bought a news agency, which they ran for ten years and sold to buy a snack bar, which kept them busy for another three years. A heart attack in 1989 gave Jim a wake up call, and he took time to smell the flowers. After bypass surgery, Jim has done nothing else but play with hibiscus.

Jim and Ruth joined the Australian Hibiscus Society in 1989 at the Mt Cooth-tha annual show and got a case of hibiscusitis that made him want to buy every plant that he could get his hands on. A man after my own heart! In those days, Jim reports that the meetings were held at the members’ homes.

In 1990, Jim and Ruth attended a convention held at Brisbane, where his radio repair expertise was called upon. Jim reports being busy for the whole week repairing and operating microphones, tape recorders and slide projectors.

In 1991, Jim was elected President of the Australian Hibiscus Society and also was given the responsibility of editor of their newsletter, “The Hibiscus.” Jim served as president until 1994 and editor until 1995. He still writes articles for “The Hibiscus” and is the current vice president of the Brisbane Branch. He also serves as a delegate for the Brisbane Branch at executive meetings. Jim is a member of the HOTY committee, a seedling evaluator and is a recorder for the Gold Coast Branch. As an evaluator, Jim has to grow seedlings being considered for HOTY for three years.

In his spare time, Jim serves as the Australian Representative on the Board of Directors for the International Hibiscus Society. Jim also has a wonderful web site called Purdie’s Hibiscus, which he updates after each meeting and show. Jim does the grafting for the annual shows of both the Brisbane and Gold Coast branches, and when his fingers are not on a grafting knife they practice the keyboard because he is very fond of music.

Ruth is the hybridizer, and Jim is the grower. He takes care of the promising seedlings and ruthlessly destroys the ones that did not make the grade. Some of the cvs that made it are: Martha Irene, that was an entrant of the 1998 HOTY; Tim’s Delight, an entrant of the 2003 HOTY; and Just Nicky, Kelvin’s Delight and Missy. Ruth’s goal as a hybridizer is to hybridize the bloom that wins HOTY. This ambitious goal is on the mind of most hybridizers, and the ability to produce seedlings of top quality is certainly a worthy vocation.

Jim and Ruth have registered three sports that they found growing on their Dorothy Brady. These are the beautiful Calypso Dancer, Apricot Delight and Robyn’s Delight. Ruth is currently holding some new seedlings that look promising. We will all have to wait and see if they make the grade in Jim and Ruth’s book. Keep them coming!

The morning sun hung like a orange ball on the horizon tinting the sky with oranges, pinks and golden light. The mysterious flower genie walked in her enchanted garden located in the peninsula of flowers looking for a gem of many colors to adorn her hair.

She spied a gem mimicking the sky with its riot of color that stood out from the rest. This gem was lovely, and she plucked it and pinned it in her loose hair.

From the chronicles of the mysterious flower genie from the peninsula of flowers- Little Gem

(The flower of the hibiscus has five petals and a long style. Although there is an unlimited variation of color shades, there are three basic colors in addition to white. These are red, yellow, and orange. There is a wide range of variations in these colors, such as the many pink shades. Pink is really a diluted crimson, but you can also find deeper shades in the eye of the flower. Other flowers will show a mixture of these colors with improved cross-pollination techniques.

With modern hybridizing, newer shades of colors can be found in cultivars. There is no true blue hibiscus, but many show blue tones as well as gray, lavender, purple shades and combinations of these. The process of finding the elusive blue continues. Any unusual color variance on a named variety of hibiscus could very well be a sport, and there are many of these in existence. Some of these hibiscus have become even more popular than the main plant from which it came.

For more generalized information on hibiscus, check the many publications and papers that have been compiled on the subject. Research is ongoing, and new things are being learned constantly as new seedlings are being grown, studied, and documented. Keeping accurate records is very important, and this data can in time be added to existing data to aid in furthering the knowledge of hibiscus.

Photo Gallery

Tomahawk

Tylene

Monet

Copper Moon

Photography by Damon Veach

Articles for Publication:

Send any freelance submittal directly to the editor: bookman@intersurf.com or to Damon Veach, P.O. Box 44370, Capitol Station, Baton Rouge, LA 70804. Opinions expressed in the articles are strictly those of the authors who have submitted the data for publication and for sharing with the society and the readers of its publication. If the issue is already full of copy, the items will be held for future issues. The earlier the submittal, the more likely the copy will be accepted for a given issue. Acceptance of material is at the discretion of the editor with final approval from the BOD.

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To BOD – August 10

Next Issue

Marvellous Mallows column will discuss Hibiscus Schizopetalus
Interview with Dawn Conrad-Shew.