Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Malvaceae

Genus:

Hibiscus

Species:

Hibiscus acetosella

USDA Symbol:

HIAC3

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Annual | Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Subshrub

Height:

180 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

aug,sep,oct,nov

Bloom Colors:

pink, red, maroon

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★★☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

butterflies, hummingbirds

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

native to tropical and subtropical regions

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

None required

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Germination Time:

7–21 days

Notes:

Scarification or soaking seeds in warm water for 24 hours improves germination. Seeds germinate best at warm temperatures (70-85°F).

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI