Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Malvaceae

Genus:

Hibiscus

Species:

Hibiscus elatus

USDA Symbol:

HIEL

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Tree

Height:

2500 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

jan,feb,mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct,nov,dec

Bloom Colors:

yellow, red, orange

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

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

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, butterflies

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

native to tropical regions, prefers fertile soils

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

None required

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Germination Time:

14–30 days

Notes:

Scarification of hard seed coat improves germination. Warm temperatures around 75-85°F are optimal.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI