Hibiscus flower is a very exotic looking flower. The flower itself sits with large leaves that are dark in color. It can be an annual or a perennial. It also can be in the form of a tree or a shrub.
There are over 200 different species of this plant. Some species are used for medicinal purposes. Some can be edible in some way. Of course some are used just for the beauty of how it looks.
The flower is a very large blossom that opens wide and the petals stretch out and tilt towards the back of the plant. It looks as if it is yawning wide to show off its beauty.
The flowers come in colors like red, pink, white, purple, orange and yellow. Whatever color you choose, it is sure to be a beautiful flower. You can’t go wrong with any color.
The edible versions of this plant are used for different forms of food or drink. Some are used in herbal teas. Others are used as an ingredient in certain flavors of jam.
Some forms of Hibiscus plant are used as a natural ingredient in the coloring of food.
In Mexico they use the plant to make a special drink called Jamaican Water. It is has a mild tang to the taste once sugar is added, and is known for its color.
If you cannot have sugar, you can drink the drink without sugar and it can be used as a natural diuretic.
To make this special drink all you have to do is boil the dehydrated flowers and then let it cool down. Once it cools down add ice and your good to go.
A special type of hibiscus flower, known as Roselle, is used for medicinal purposes. It is used to help with a cough, to reduce fevers, and to lower high blood pressure.
Some boil the flower with oil and other spices to be used to prevent hair loss and graying of the hair. The Hibiscus leaves can be ground with a small amount of water and can be turned into a paste to be used as a shampoo and conditioner.
The hibiscus plant grows best in tropical areas. It need that hot tropics weather to grow.
In order to grow a Hibiscus plant you first need to make sure you pick a spot that is hot and really sunny. It helps to be in an area that has very little to no wind. As I said before they grow best in tropical regions.
To start the planting, dig a hole that is about double the size of the roots of the plant and no deeper than the size of the root ball. This plant must also be in well-drained soil.
The plant has very delicate roots, so you must be careful when planting the flower not to damage them.
As soon as it is planted, water it. Make sure the plant gets enough water as needed without getting too wet, try and keep the plant moist. You don’t want to drench it with water.
This plant needs to be watered only when the soil begins to feel dry. You will also need to fertilize the plant about every three weeks with a low nitrogen fertilizer.
As usual with most plants, prune it back when it begins to look messy.
Once your plant is full grown, enjoy it! This really is a very exotic and beautiful plant to have.