Hibiscus schizopetalus

Japanese Lantern, Fringed Hibiscus, Coral Hibiscus

Message of the Flower

Flame

The Mother’s Comment

Elegant and triumphant in its ardour.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

Agni is at once a fire of aspiration, a fire of purification, a fire of tapasya, a fire of transformation.

Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga - III: Experiences Associated with the Psychic

Without Agni the sacrificial flame cannot burn on the altar of the soul. That flame of Agni is the seven-tongued power of theWill, a Force of God instinct with Knowledge. This conscious and forceful will is the immortal guest in our mortality, a pure priest and a divine worker, the mediator between earth and heaven. It carries what we offer to the higher Powers and brings back in return their force and light and joy into our humanity.

Sri Aurobindo, Hymns to the Mystic Fire: The Doctrine of the Mystics

Colour

Light red, white

Family

Malvaceae

Cultivars

Not widely known for cultivars due to its distinctive fringed petals.

Person who named the flower

Hook.f. (Joseph Dalton Hooker)

Flower Size

Flowers can be 3 to 4 inches long.

Flower Texture

Delicate and slightly ruffled due to the fringed petals.

Number of Petals

Five, deeply lobed and fringed.

Floral Symmetry

Radial symmetry.

Fragrance of Flower

Mildly fragrant.

Leaf Texture

Slightly rough, with fine hairs.

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate.

Leaf Color

Green

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Shrub.

Life Cycle

Perennial in tropical climates.

Blooming Period

Year-round in tropical climates; seasonal in others depending on conditions.

Climate

Tropical to subtropical.

Water Requirements

Moderate; prefers consistent moisture but well-drained soil.

Soil Type

Loamy, well-drained soils with some organic content for optimal growth.

Temperature Ranges

Prefers warm climates, sensitive to frost.

Sun or Shade

Prefers full sun to partial shade.

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Can be prone to pests like aphids and diseases such as rust or leaf spot in humid conditions.

Pollinators

Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Habitat

Native to East Africa; used ornamentally in gardens and landscapes.

Role in the Ecosystem

Attracts pollinators; provides habitat and food for wildlife.

Ornamental

Highly valued for its unique, ornamental flowers and used in landscaping.

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Mostly ornamental and gardening.

Endangered Status

Not listed as endangered; widely cultivated.

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