FUN FACTS

Botanical name: Hibiscus sabdariffa (Malvaceae).  AKA Roselle,  Luo Shen Hua 洛神花 or mei gui qie 玫瑰茄,  Agua De Jamaica, , Indici Flower. Native to North African and Southeast Asia.  The seeds, leaves, flower and calyx are all used. ² The leaves can be eaten green, dried, or cooked as a vegetable.  Seeds are sometimes used as a substitute for coffee.

CONSTITUENTS

Main constituents are anthocyanins, polysaccharides, organic acids, and flavonoids.   In fact, hibiscus is high in acid ( citric, hydroxycitric, hibiscus, malic,  tartaric, oxalic and ascorbic acid)³ and should be used cautiously if one's stomach is already acidic.  It's an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

USES/BENEFITS

(Disclaimer) Mildly sedative, soothing for colds, coughs, and chest problems.  Help with digestion and gently stimulates appetite.  Reduces cholesterol.  Reduces liver damage. Helps with lowering blood pressure, and reduces inflammation.  A study from the National Institute of Health found hibiscus extracts to reduce hypertension.   Another research showed hibiscus tea helps with type II diabetes.  Other studies found hibiscus induces apotosis in leukemia cells by inducing apotosis - the process by which the body kills bad cells, and keeps good ones.  When apotosis malfunctions, then you have cancer cells that keeps replicating.  Hibiscus is also a mild laxative and diuretic.

CAUTIONS

Use of hibiscus tea may impact drug levels.  Check with your doctor.  Study showed that pregnant women, children under 6 months, and children with chronic renal failure should consult with a doctor before drinking this tea. ¹  Hibiscus is an emmenagogue and can induce periods.  Do not use if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

TYPES

There are 2 main types of hibiscus

— Tropical

Hibiscus (sabdariffa), AKA roselle, red sorrel and flor de Jamaica,  is the hibiscus most commonly used for tea.  The red calyxes from the flowers are used for tea, jam, and juice.

Hibiscus (rosa-sinensis) pedals can also be used for tea.  That's the hibiscus in the featured picture.  It can tolerate the Texas heat, but only with daily watering.  Flowering are the most plentiful during spring or fall (even inside the house), but slows down during the hot summers.  It's best to grow tropical hibiscus in pots where you can bring it in during the winter.  When you transition from outside to home, some leaves will turn yellow and drop, but new leaves will sprout quickly if the environment is between 50 to 70 degrees.

— Non Tropical

Hardy perennial (Hibiscus moscheutos) and Hardy shrub (Hibiscus syriacus) have many varieties and a multitude of colors.  They are primarily used for landscaping and gardening.   They are commonly called Rose Mallow or Swamp Mallow, Altha or Rose of Sharon

GROWING

Hibiscus plants are often found at Home Depot or Lowes during Spring.  I found mine (rosa-sinensis) in someone's trash a few years ago.  They grow easily in the Texas heat as long as you keep them watered as soon as you see the leaves drooping.  In the hot summers, they need to be watered daily.  When the weather lows starts dipping past 32 degrees, I bring them inside.  They grow quickly and requires trimming to stay healthy.  With a little care, they provide beautiful flowers for tea all year.  The bloom through the winter when I bring them inside.