Editorial Introduction:|President's Message:|Marvellous Mallows|Fiji Named Varieties|Purdie's Cultural Notes|Interview Beers|Interview McNatt|Hibiscus Care|Morning Coffee|India Update|

EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION

With this issue, “Hibiscus International” finishes its first full year of publication and sharing of an enormous amount of information to hibiscus enthusiasts around the world. This is indeed a first since it is a cyber publication, and it is the International Hibiscus Society’s way of saying “thanks” to a growing number of readers who have come to claim the “Queen of the Tropics” as their favorite flower. It has been a labor of love for me, and I have enjoyed the experience immensely. It’s had its ups and downs, of course, but when you have a worldwide coordination of effort, there is always the necessity of checking and re-checking everything in print. What is important to me is the caring and sharing that everyone gives to this project. Without the help of professionals and beginners and friends, this would not have been possible.

And remember that all of this has been free for you to download. It is one of the best reasons I can think of to join the IHS. This is not to say that it hasn’t been an expensive project, but the rewards have far outdistanced the actual cost. I just hope that you have found a lot of good information to help you along in your pursuit of hibiscus happiness. That’s what it’s all about. Volume 2 is already on the drawing board. As I say, it’s a labor of love in promoting a continued interest for the most beautiful flower in the world. Our motto could very well be “Caring, Sharing, and Giving.

Damon Veach, Editor.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

There is not a lot special to report to you other than we are making progress on various projects.

The Hibiscus Archives have photos through the “M’s” as of this writing, and I will hopefully have them completed through the “Z’s” by the time you read this or shortly thereafter. We will then fill in the info for each cv afterward, and as previously mentioned, any assistance any of you might be able to provide in that regard would be most appreciated. People might want to bookmark that address, as the IHS Hibiscus Archives are becoming a significant reference source for photos and info: 

Hibiscus International is working fine thanks to the efforts of Damon and the many who have so generously contributed articles. By the time you read this we hope to have the cyber versions of H.I. 1-5 up on the IHS website with H.I. 6 to follow shortly thereafter. Also, by the time you read this, we should have a folder under files on the Yahoo IHS web site containing all the final versions of the original H.I. volumes. This will provide a convenient means for IHS members to access all the original volumes of Hibiscus International which are importantly printable so that those who wish can produce hard copies. To access this folder, one has to be an IHS member and signed in with our host at:
When you are in, click on “Files” in the menu on the left and when that opens click on the Hibiscus International folder.

Hybridizer’s Corner now has some of Allan Little’s seedlings and the format has been changed wherein the parentage photos are accessed via links rather than pictures of the parents alongside each seedling. The latter proved too redundant with the same parent photo appearing time and time again, took up web site space and was a bit time consuming. With the efficiency gained in this new format, the board has decided that this section will now be available for all IHS member seedlings, regardless of when they have bloomed. Hence, we are hoping to expand this section, since many members will have seedlings that qualify under these new guidelines. Members who would like to provide seedling photos for this section should send them to me (diveta@mail.pf). Title each beginning with the number “1” through however many seedlings photos you wish to submit. They will be put up on the web site as per the sequence of these numbers. You should also indicate the parents and ideally something about the bloom, i.e., size, texture, strengths and weakness, etc. If a photo of the parents isn’t in the archives, that photo would be useful so that the seedling can be linked to the photos of its parents. We can list every single seedling, even if they are not keepers, as even the rejects help give us an idea of what can be expected from a given cross. Generally, those seedlings that have been given registered names will appear in the archives while those that have not, will be in this section. It would also be useful if IHS members who have produced seedlings would provide a list of all their cvs with registered names, so that we can see in one convenient place the results of their efforts. To see what is presently in this section check out:

Don’t forget that the deadlines for the Trimestrial Photo Contests, i.e., the last day of August (TPC 2001-2) and December (TPC 2001-3). Time to get all those great photos to me for this IHS member activity. And lastly, the IHS HOTY and MOTY (Member Of The Year) programs are currently under revision and will resume as soon as the new elements are in place. I hope you are enjoying Hibiscus International and the IHS.

Happy Hibiscus Growing To
All, Dick Johnson, Tahiti

IHS GOVERNING BOARD

Marvellous Mallows

(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.)

Pavonia Hastata

A typical white flower

Introduction

Pavonia hastata belongs to the Pavonia genus, which contains around 270 species, of which around 220 are found in the tropics and subtropics of the American continent. The remaining species are almost all concentrated in Africa, although two species are reported to be native to Asia. Together with hibiscus, Pavonia is the genus in the Mallow family, which has the largest number of species.

P. hastata is native to South America, although some people claim it is also native to Australia, since early collectors are said to have found it there 15 years after settlement. Older Australian references generally refer to it as a native plant whereas more recent references, such as species lists for particular sites, usually state that it is an introduced species. It has naturalized in the USA in the states of Florida and Georgia.

Many Pavonia species have potential as ornamentals, though relatively few are currently used for that purpose and it may be difficult to obtain plants. Seed of a number of species is available from online sources (see references at the end of this article).

Pink form

The Plant

One of the few Pavonias that has been used as an ornamental is Pavonia hastata. It is a small perennial shrub up to around 1 metre tall. During its flowering season, which extends mainly from end of spring through summer and autumn in subtropical areas, it bears numerous white or pinkish hibiscus-like flowers with a dark crimson spot in the centre. The flowers are around 5 cm (2") and last one day only, but are quickly replaced by others, so the plant will usually have many flowers at the same time. The form with white flowers has dark green leaves and the blooms show up well against the dark foliage.

In early spring it will form buds but these usually will not open, although seed setting will follow. This is a phenomenon known as "cleistogamy", which is probably an adaptation to unfavourable environmental conditions. However, buds will become blooms in early summer.

The fruit is not a pod like those of hibiscus and other relatives: it is divided in five segments with exactly one seed each. The style is another difference between Pavonia and Hibiscus species: while plants in the genus Hibiscus always have the style divided in 5, Pavonia species have twice as many stigmas.

Details of pod and style

P. hastata prefers light loams and sunny open areas, and is influenced by water run-off and so in Australia may be quite numerous along areas such as gullies and on roadsides. Although it responds well in conditions of good soil and water run-off, it does not need a lot of water to grow, but again if too stressed the blooms won't open.

It is frost-hardy to -7 degrees Celsius (20F), though sufficient heat is necessary for the blooms to open. It grows well without needing to be fertilized, however if fertilizing, the use of a seaweed extract would be beneficial. Plants that are pruned hard after the last frosts will soon re-shoot and become much more dense and so carry more blooms. Pruning is not essential but plants that are not pruned will become more open and straggly.

When given conditions such as good soil and ample water, Pavonia hastata may have the potential to become a weed, and in Australia it has been listed as a weed in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. The seeds remain viable for a long time in the soil, sprouting under favourable conditions, so the species may reappear in a locality after several years. The possibility that the plant may become a weed suggests that care should be taken with where it is grown.

For gardeners unable to grow it in the ground, Pavonia hastata grows very well in a pot, flowering and setting seed. It is like all the mallows in regard to growing in a pot. The size of the plant will be determined by the size of the pot. It can be maintained for many years in a small pot, but if potted on annually into a pot that is a size larger, after several years it can reach the same size as it would in the ground.

No special treatment is necessary before planting the seed, but it may be advisable to abrade its surface a little with an emery board so the seed will sprout faster. Seed is usually sown in spring or autumn but this would depend on the climate. In areas with very short dry summers, the seed could be sown in summer whereas in areas with summers that are very wet and humid, it would be preferable to sow the seed in autumn.

While propagation can be by cuttings, plants perform well from seed. As the plant is a species, the seed will come true, that is, the seedlings will be exactly like the parents. Plants would probably flower in 9 - 12 months depending on what time of the year the seed was sown. Pinching the seedling is recommended as it will result in a bushier plant, which will have more flowers in the long run, pinching may delay the first bloom. You need to expect that the first flowers will be cleistogamous and so there will not be a bloom, but these will be followed by normal flowers later in the season.

Bush habit

IHS members who would like a small hibiscus-like plant which is low growing for the front or edge of garden beds and which flowers profusely in the warmer months may find this a useful addition to their garden. For those who like or need to grow their plants in pots, this is a plant which does not need much attention and which rewards the grower by performing extremely well in a pot, given enough sunlight and warmth. 

Bush detail

As with most hibiscus family plants, it is not just a tough, hardy plant. The blooms make a great garnish for a plate of sandwiches or a tossed salad. And should you be making a bowl of punch, the flowers are the perfect size to be set in ice-blocks and floated in the punch bowl to show just not just the beauty but also the versatility of our favourite family of plants.

Esteves, G. L. "Sistemática de Pavonia cav. (Malvaceae), com base nas espécies das regiões Nordeste e Sudeste do Brasil" . Doctoral dissertation, Inst. Biociências, Univ. São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, 1996.

J. Wrigley, M. Fagg "Australian Native Plants", 3rd Edition, Collins Publishers Australia, 1979, 1983, 1988.

Keith Williams, "Native Plants of Queensland", Volume 2, Printcraft, Australia, 1984.

Online References
Australian References

The pros and cons of Pavonia hastata

Species description

Phosphorus tolerance

About cleistogamous flowers

Weeds in Blue Mountains

Methods of weed control

American References

US distribution

Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants

"Plant Ratings". With notes (also shows P. lasiopetala)

Short description

French References

Plant information.

Photos on the Net
   

Nurseries and Seed

Listing from "Native Texas Nursery" (USA)

(apparently P. hastata is not on the list of currently available plants)

Glasshouse Works (USA) - calls it "Fairy Hibiscus"

Greening Australia Nursery (AU) - descriptive species list

Nestreblae Exotics (NZ) - seed catalogue, sends worldwide

B&T World Seeds - in Europe, sends worldwide

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© 2004 International Hibiscus Society