Red-Leaf Hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella) in the Hibiscus Database

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Shrub
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences:	Wet Mesic Mesic
Plant Height:	6--8 feet
Plant Spread:	4--6 feet
Leaves:	Unusual foliage color
Flowers:	Showy Fragrant Other: The flowers make a lightly sedative tea. A lot of people are allergic or have a bad reaction. can be over seeped easily
Flower Color:	Red
Flower Time:	Late summer or early fall Fall
Uses:	Medicinal Herb
Wildlife Attractant:	Bees Butterflies Hummingbirds
Propagation: Other methods:	Cuttings: Stem Cuttings: Tip Cuttings: Cane
Pollinators:	Various insects
Containers:	Suitable in 3 gallon or larger Needs repotting every 2 to 3 years Needs excellent drainage in pots

Common names

Red-Leaf Hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella) was a featured
Plant of the Day for December 2, 2015.

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Comments:

Posted by quietyard (Tucson, Arizona) on Aug 25, 2014 8:02 PM concerning plant:

I have grown this plant for a couple of years now in the hot desert heat of Tucson. I have found that it likes filtered shade. It propagates very easily from cuttings that I just stick in a bucket of water. Within a week or two, tiny white roots will appear. So far I have not had any problems with insect damage on these plants.

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Posted by GrowInFlorida on Sep 30, 2016 9:08 AM concerning plant:

if you have an iguana problem, do not plant this hibiscus in the iguana-prone areas. They love this plant and will eat it to the bone (same as moringa). This is a very tasty plant for them. You can try to wrap the stalk in foil - it might scare them, iguanas don't like shiny reflective surfaces - but having foil hanging out in your yard can look unsightly. Mine was grown hydroponically and was pretty happy about it, so a water feature is also a good idea for this hibiscus. It's now grown in a group of alocasias and colocasias in soil with wet feet and is enjoying it immensely. Wilts if there is too much sun, so better put it in partial shade away from iguanas.

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Plant Events from our members
MrsBinWY	On June 2, 2020	Transplanted 3 that I kept over the winter in pots - on 6-2-20 planted 1 with Centranthus ruber alba; on 6-14-20 planted 1 by the iron pot and 1 by the corner of the garage where H. moscheutos was
MrsBinWY	On March 12, 2019	Seeds germinated 4; 9 on 3-16-19
MrsBinWY	On March 8, 2019	Seeds sown 11 seeds from luvsgrtdanes, soak in hot water over night, chip if no swelling, sow in milk jug @ warm room temp
antsinmypants	On June 15, 2023	Transplanted Into Arch Garden
antsinmypants	On March 24, 2023	Plant emerged 1 seedling emerged.
antsinmypants	On March 17, 2023	Seeds sown Sown after a 24-hour soak.

Discussion Threads about this plant

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
What is it? by bamira	Sep 22, 2014 7:42 PM	3
sunkissed photo by PeggyC	Dec 13, 2020 10:33 AM	0

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Hibiscus Red-Leaf Hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella)