Growing your own hibiscus opens up a world of beauty, flavour, and wellness right in your backyard. These flowers not only dazzle with their bright blooms but also offer health benefits through their antioxidant-rich petals, perfect for brewing soothing teas. In a previous article, Health For Mzansi discussed the amazing health benefits of this fragrant flower. This time, we share how easy it is to grow hibiscus.
For overall health, Sibongile Jiyane, a plant pathologist from Tshwane in Gauteng, explains that hibiscus supports gut health.
“A healthy supply of microorganisms and digestive enzymes is essential for efficient digestion and absorption,” she says.
Jiyane adds that hibiscus is particularly beneficial because it provides calcium, which helps digestive enzymes function properly. Its high-fibre content promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms in our digestive tracts. Additionally, she says, the flower contains iron which is important for the body’s defense against invasive microorganisms.
She points out that hibiscus is rich in calcium and protein, crucial for maintaining healthy bones in adults and supporting bone growth in youngsters. “In postmenopausal women, calcium also helps slow down bone material loss.”
Growing drought-tolerant hibiscus
According to Babalwa Mpambani, a horticulture scientist and scientific manager for horticulture research at the Dohne Agricultural Development Institute in the Eastern Cape, South Africa boasts over 60 species of hibiscus.
While hibiscus is a genus encompassing 200 plant species grown in various climatic regions worldwide, it is cultivated primarily for its flowers, leaves, and seeds.
Mpambani notes that specific hibiscus varieties thrive in particular regions. For instance, hibiscus rosa-sinensis does well in KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape due to the Mediterranean and subtropical climates.
“One can also consider planting on pots in these sheltered environments. However, these can become expensive, especially if the gardener is producing several of the plants.”
Babalwa Mpambani
In KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, the semi-hardy and drought-tolerant hibiscus calyphyllus can thrive. Hibiscus pendunculatus, known for its drought tolerance, is suitable for KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and the Eastern Cape. Hibiscus ludwigii can also thrive in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape due to its drought resistance and the subtropical climate of these provinces.
Furthermore, Mpambani adds that hibiscus moscheutos and hibiscus syriacus do well in the Eastern Cape’s subtropical regions, while hibiscus tiliaceus thrives in tropical regions like KwaZulu-Natal. In the Mediterranean regions of the Western Cape, hibiscus mutabilis grows well.
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Hardy Mzansi varieties
Most South African hibiscus species can withstand drought conditions, while more common hybrid varieties require more frequent watering, explains Mpambani.
“The South African hibiscus species require less pruning, fertilisation, and maintenance compared to more common hybrids, which require regular pruning to maintain their shape and fertilisation (mostly with phosphorus) to promote blooming.”
She highlights that another advantage of Mzansi species is that they require less monitoring during their growth as they are more resistant to pests and diseases.
The smart approach for gardeners planting hibiscus is to select the right time or season for a particular variety, explains Mpambani. “This allows the plant enough time to establish itself before the next winter, protecting it from frost.”
Alternatively, gardeners can choose varieties that tolerate frost, she says.
If suitable varieties aren’t available, Mpambani advises that they may opt to purchase frost protection products like blankets or sprays or use organic mulching materials such as compost, pine straw, grass, or leaves.
“Most hibiscus plants, especially South African indigenous species, do not require regular pruning.”
She adds, “However, it is recommended to prune them every two weeks if necessary, removing dead or damaged branches to prevent the spread of diseases and pests.”
Mpambani says another way to enhance the longevity and health of hibiscus plants is to feed them balanced fertilisers during their growth season.
The quantity should be determined through soil testing, she says. Applying phosphorus fertilisers promotes blooming, with fertilisation recommended every two to three weeks during the growing season and monthly during dormancy.
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