Hibiscus International #7

Fall has arrived in the northern hemisphere, so it’s time for all our below-the-equator members to step in and help out with the cause. It was cool for a few days, but now it’s hot again, so I have until Thanksgiving to get everything inside and protected from the frost. The weather has been so crazy this year, it’s difficult to predict exactly when that first really big snap will come. I guess I just need to watch out for Nadeen’s snow goose on her way to see Marcos in Brazil.

It’s been a great first year, and I’ve learned a lot about my favorite flower. At least, I can raise some nice seedlings, and now I have to keep them safe until spring. That won’t be difficult at all. I’m use to sleeping in a jungle during the winter months. I was not successful in any of my own hybridizing efforts, but thanks to Allan, Bob, Mervin, Nadeen, Gloria, Dick, Anna, and Marcos, my collection has really taken on an international flavor. International and tropical! What a great combination!

For now, let’s all be thankful for the goodness that has been provided us and consider ourselves fortunate to have so many friends around the world. Life is great. The International Hibiscus Society has made mine so much more enjoyable and rewarding. From a small group, we have grown into a highly recognizable force within the hibiscus world community. I’m very pleased to be a part of this.

Well, the IHS is now entering its second year, and we are over 160 members strong. During this period we have had four photo contests. The winning entries in each category are permanently set up on our web site, and each member who provided the best of show entry has received a genuine cultured Tahitian black pearl. This is perhaps our most interactive activity, but we have others. The “Hybridizer’s Corner” section has grown and now has over 100 member seedling photos. This section will eventually house a great deal of info, visual and otherwise, providing considerable insight for those who are interested in hybridizing. And, for those who simply like to see beautiful blooms, these are unique in the world in that they aren’t yet in distribution and the only place you will see them is in this section. The initial photo uploads for the “Hibiscus Archives” are now complete, and we will begin work on the cv info. The H. rosa-sinensis archive contains over 600 varieties, the H. species archives has a couple of dozen entries making it one of the most complete of its kind and Mystery Archive has another couple of dozens photos. This has been a group effort and many of you will find your photos in these archives for which you have been given photos credit. Should anyone find errors, please do report them so that they can be corrected. We would like this to become an authoritative reference source so accuracy is important. Even though only the initial uploads have been undertaken, this represents a massive amount of work, and there are certain to be many rectifications. Moreover, we welcome any cv info anyone reading this might be able to provide. It is such info that will make this archive unique in being more than just a pictorial guide to the wondrous world of hibiscus. Our other, and perhaps most important undertaking has been “Hibiscus International,” and Damon Veach, our editor, has been doing a marvelous job of keeping the articles and info coming. There is perhaps no other hibiscus periodical with more info, and most importantly it will be available for future reference on our web site for all to access now and well into the future. All issues are not presently on the web site, as we are reconsidering the format. Once this has been decided by the Board, all back issues will be uploaded. With so much to do and so little time to attend to such things, I feel we have accomplished a great deal. We still have projects pending, i.e., the IHS HOTY and Membership programs, but these will be finalized as time permits. In the meantime, this is your society so your ideas and participation are of course welcome at any time. You can consult the web site under Statutes and find the e-mail addresses of the various board members so that you can communicate with one of them directly concerning such things. Good things continue at the IHS.

(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.)

The Malvaceae family has a number of food plants. One of these is Abelmoschus esculentus, or okra. It is best known for its mucilaginous seedpods which are fried or used to thicken soups and stews. However, this is a true multipurpose plant with edible leaves, flowers, seedpods and mature seeds. It is an annual and is very heat tolerant and relatively free from pests. By carefully picking lower leaves it is possible to get a good crop of leaves and of seedpods from the same plants. The seeds are toasted, ground and used as a substitute for coffee.

There is another multipurpose Abelmoschus, although it is generally not as well known as okra. This plant, Abelmoschus manihot, is grown for its leaves and for its large flowers.

As Abelmoschus manihot occurs in tropical Asia and in northern Queensland, it grows best in tropical and subtropical regions since it is frost tender. However, although it is a perennial, it can be grown as an annual in temperate areas, flowering well in the first year and setting seed.

Abelmoschus manihot has a single central stem to 2m and short sparse branches. It grows very quickly. Cuttings taken in spring can reach over 2 metres by autumn in sub-tropical areas. It is a hardy plant, which prefers a sunny aspect with rich, moist, well- drained soil.

The plants may naturalize. Plants grow well in an ornamental vegetable garden, and this may not only add to the appearance of the garden but may also make it easier to ensure that the plant does not naturalize.

The large, up to 15 cm (6 inches) hibiscus-like flowers are a brilliant lemon with deep purple centres borne on long pedicels at the apex of the plant. Flowers are produced in the warmer months. The flowers are pollinated by insects. Petals can be added to salads or cooked.

While the large yellow flowers are very ornamental, the importance of this plant is that it is one of the world's most nutritious leafy vegetables because of its high protein content. The leaves are tender and sweet and can be served raw or steamed (leaffor life).

There are 16 references to the use of Abelmoschus manihot as a vegetable in the Agricola database 1970-1996:

It can produce up to 60 tons of leaves per hectare using a multiple harvest system.

There can be big differences in leaf shape, colour and production and flavour but leaves are usually palmate, about 10 cm (4 inches) across. In Papua New Guinea, plants are propagated from stem cuttings with harvesting commencing 2 - 3 months after planting and continuing for 1-2 years, and the young leaves are picked and are cooked in coconut cream or water. They are also fried. Leaves may be added to soups. Blanched leaves can be added to salads. The leaves make a tasty addition to an omelette.

Seeds germinate more quickly if nicked or abraded by rubbing with an emery board. Note: Handle pods with care. Soaking the seed overnight may assist germination:

Seed can be sown at the beginning of spring, in a warm greenhouse if necessary. The seed should germinate within two weeks. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, they can be pricked out into individual pots and planted out after the last expected frosts. If growing from seed, there may have been an emphasis on developing superior flowers and the leaves and young shoots may not make a delicious vegetable. If a plant is grown and the leaves are not tasty, the large lemon flowers can still be used to decorate salads.

Plants will tolerate occasional short-lived lows down to about -5°c so long as they are in a very well-drained soil. They can be grown in Zones 7A to 10A in the United States.

Elliot, W.R. and Jones, D.I. (1980-1988) Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation, Volume 2, Lothian, Melbourne.

Hale, P. Williams, B. (1977) Liklik Buk. The Melanesian Council of Churches, Wirui Press, Papua New Guinea.

Williams, K. 1979: Native Plants of Queensland, Vol. 1, Cranbrook Press, Qld IMAGE

AGIS Home Page Phytochemicals of Abelmoschus manihot Chemical Part Amount (ppm) Low (ppm) High (ppm) ASH Leaf 16,100 138,793
CALCIUM Leaf 724 6,241
COPPER Leaf 2.5 21.5
FAT Leaf 17,700 152,586
GLYCOLIPIDS Plant 5,504 47,448
IRON Leaf 33 284
MAGNESIUM Leaf 564, 4,862
PHOSPHOLIPIDS Plant 5,310 45,775
PROTEIN LEAF 22,000 190,000
WATER Leaf Amount ppm 884,000
ZINC Leaf 12.5 108

(Photos for this article were furnished by Colleen Keena.)

Checking Out Our Web Site:

To view our IHS website which includes Statute, Getting To Know You, Hibiscus Cultivar Archive, Articles, Member Activities, Sponsors, IHS Recommended Links and other related items, click on our permanent domain name address:

All articles and pictures for publication in “Hibiscus International” should be submitted to Damon Veach, Editor, P.O. Box 44370, Capitol Station, Baton Rouge, LA 70804 or by e-mail: bookman@intersurf.com. Items are already in place for the next issue, so if your submittals are not used immediately, they will be stored for later use. All members are urged to participate.

Living in South Florida has its advantages. First of all, the weather can’t be better for growing hibiscus unless I lived in Queensland. But since I live in the peninsula of flowers instead of the Land of Oz, I get to look at flowers almost year round. In fact, it is a rare day that I cannot spot at least a garden variety somewhere in Miami, Florida.

After falling for the Queen of the Tropics, I found that it was also a good place to meet the people who grow the flowers and found that the availability of cultivars could keep me in flowers for quite some time. Generally, garden varieties are available in most garden centers but if you want a beautiful cultivar, there are a few good places to stop and shop.