Hibiscus plants are known for their large, showy flowers with deep-colored bases. The plants range from low, spreading forms to upright varieties reaching 20 feet in height. Some are compact and dense while others are open and thin. The flowers can vary in size from blossoms two inches in diameter up to 12 inches, with colors ranging from white to purple.
Most hibiscus are odorless, but some of the basic varieties have a modest fragrance.
Also known as the Chinese hibiscus, it is probably the most popular and widely planted shrub of the tropics. It is believed to be native to China and came to the world by way of the South Pacific and Hawaii. Little is known about the early history of tropical hibiscus. The Chinese hibiscus may have been hybrids of two or more species from areas near the Indian Ocean. A few species, like okra, can be eaten, and cotton provides one of the world's most popular clothing fibers.