Flowers that look like hibiscus are stunning in their unique ways, just like the hibiscus plant. Hibiscus flowers are large, carry the shape of a trumpet, and they belong to the mallow family and have over 200 species in the hibiscus family.
This plant has showy blossoms and leaves that alternate with veins parting them out from the leaf stem.
Continue reading this guide to see what other plants share these features and bloom vibrantly.
Contents
- Top Flowers That Look Like Hibiscus
- 1. Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus Moscheutos)
- 2. Chaparral Bush Mallow (Malacothamnus Fasciculatus)
- 3. Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus Syriacus)
- 4. Mango Liqueur (Mangifera Indica)
- 5. Beach Beauty (Calophyllum Inophyllum)
- 6. Giant Rose Mallow (Hibiscus glandiflorus)
- 7. China Rose (Rosa Chinensis)
- 8. Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus Rosa–sinensis)
- 9. Red Hibiscus (hibiscus coccineus)
- Conclusion
Top Flowers That Look Like Hibiscus
1. Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus Moscheutos)
Hardy Hibiscus is a bushy, multistemmed perennial that belongs to the Malvaceae family. It is natively growing in the Southeastern United States area and loves to grow in creek edges and wetlands.
Hardy hibiscus has other common names such as rose mallow, crimson-eyed rose mallow, mallow rose, wild cotton, luna pink swirl, luna red, eastern rose mallow, swamp rose mallow, swamp rose, mallow rose, and swamp mallow.
– Description
Hibiscus moscheutos can grow up to four to seven feet tall and is related to the normal hibiscus but more compact as the tropical hibiscus grows up to 8 feet. Hardy Hibiscus has five-petaled flowers with a large stamen.
The flowers bloom from July through September and are 12 inches in diameter with long green foliage in an oval shape. They are white with a burgundy center, attracting butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds with their beauty.
– Growing Conditions
The Hardy Hibiscus’s natural habitat is in wetlands and swamps. It can also thrive in gardens and grounds, provided the soil doesn’t dry out. It needs well-drained, slightly acidic soils under full sun and plenty of water to grow. It blooms in the hot sun of summer, attracting many pollinators.
2. Chaparral Bush Mallow (Malacothamnus Fasciculatus)
Chaparral bush mallow is native to California and Baja California, where it is a member of the Chapparal and Coastal sage scrub plant communities in many regions. It is a spectrum of varieties that can be hard to differentiate from other malacothamnus species.
– Description
This shrub is a slender, multi-branched stem that grows up to five meters in height. It has white or brownish hairs coating the plant thinly. The leaves are oval or rounded, at least 1 to 5 meters long.
Sometimes, these leaves can be divided into lobes. The flowers come out in summer well arranged in an elongated cluster. One shrub can have thousands of pale pink flowers with petals under a centimeter long.
– Growing Requirements
The chaparral bush mallow grows in coastal areas and other parts of b Once established, it requires little water to survive as it is a fast-growing plant that attracts butterflies and bees for pollination. Grow it in well-drained soils that do not need occasional watering. This plant can tolerate drought but will need constant moisture for a short time.
3. Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus Syriacus)
The Rose of Sharon is another plant with flowers that resemble the hibiscus ones. The one difference between the rose of Sharon plant and the tropical hibiscus is the size of the flower and the cold hardiness. It is native to Taiwan and China but grows all across America.
– Description
Hibiscus Syriacus or Blue bird is a small, upright, multi-stemmed shrub with narrowly spreading branches. It grows between eight to ten feet tall. It produces an array of white, lavender, pink, or blue flowers from midsummer to fall. These blooms have large stamens and five to six petals like the tropical hibiscus.
– Growing
This plant thrives in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9. It grows in light shade to full sun in any soil. The wild varieties and older cultivars can be invasive due to re-seeding, but the hybrid varieties have improved.
Consider its spacing when planting as it grows to about 8 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide. It adapts easily to a variety of pH levels and tolerates neglect. It also has a high tolerance of all types of soil except extremely wet or dry soils.
4. Mango Liqueur (Mangifera Indica)
The mango liqueur is one of the hybrid hibiscus plants that is fascinating with its blooms. It belongs to the Mangifera family and consists of about 30 different species of tropical fruiting trees. It has been an important Ayurveda and indigenous medical plant for over 4,000 years.
Mangifera Indica is one of the most popular tropical fruits with strong antioxidant, anti-lipid peroxidation, anti-degenerative, anti-diabetic, hypotensive, wound healing, cardiotonic, and immunomodulation uses.
– Description
This plant grows as a shrub and has wide blooms about six to eight inches with petals like ruffled flowers. The flowers bloom vibrantly and are commonly used in weddings and party decorations.
– Growing Requirements
You can start this tree by cutting or via grafting. This tree grows well in rich fertile soils that are well drained. It needs full sun and plenty of moisture but not waterlogged soils. You will need to regularly prune your tree to keep it in good shape and get a good harvest.
5. Beach Beauty (Calophyllum Inophyllum)
Beach beauty is native to tropical Asia. It grows naturally in regions of the East Africa Coast, Madagascar, and Oceania, having been spread through migration. The name of this plant comes from its resemblance to a beautiful blonde woman on the beach.
– Description
Beach beauty is a multi-branched crooked tree that reaches at least 50 to 60 feet. It has leathery, glossy leaves that are oval-shaped with smooth margins. It has beautiful sprays of fragrant white, candy pink, or golden yellow flowers with yellow or red centers and several stamens. Later on, a round fruit known as a ball nut forms.
– Growing Beach Beauty
Beach beauty grows in various soils and is not a difficult plant to take care of. It can do well in the coastal region in sandy soils, loamy, or a mixture of both. It grows slowly but steadily, lasting several years before reaching maturity. At maturity, it will be at least 50 feet tall. Water it less often and do not fertilize it too much.
6. Giant Rose Mallow (Hibiscus glandiflorus)
Giant rose mallow is a plant similar to Hibiscus moscheutos. It has the largest flowers of any hardy perennial plant. Some hybrids are a foot long in diameter, while others are smaller, but this plant is popular for the big and beautiful blooms it creates.
– Description
Though the giant rose resembles moscheutos, it has large leaves and grows quite tall. Its flowers are pink, while some are white with a dark red center. It has smooth foliage in a rich shade of coppery purple. The flowers emerge from midsummer all through the autumn frost.
– Growing Conditions
Rose mallow or Blue river II prefers growing in garden soil under full sun. Rich, moist soils bring about vigorous growth for this plant. It is also a very accommodating plant that tolerates light shade.
You can add high organic matter to the soils for that vibrant growth. It does well around ponds, streams, swamps, or bogs (You can choose these plants too for your pond as companions). You can also grow it in a container, and it will thrive as though it’s in a garden. You can grow it from seed or cuttings during its growing season.
7. China Rose (Rosa Chinensis)
China Rose is one of the most dated cultivated roses, introduced in 1894. It is a large shrub native to the temperate areas of Hubei, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces in Southwestern China. This flower is popular for its beautiful blooms and long history.
– Description
China Rose is a popular Asiatic shrub that reaches a height of around 15 to 25 feet when mature. It is a highly tolerant plant to frost. This plant has beautiful flowers that appear from April through September in groups of four to five.
They are about three to five inches long and one and a half to two inches wide. The petals are single, semi-double, or double flowers. They can be red, pink, purple, or white flowers, some slightly fragrant and others not.
– Growing China Rose
Rosa Chinensis enjoys growing under the full sun. Provide it with moist, slightly acidic, well-drained loam soil. The watering should be moderate and provide good air circulation.
This plant grows to about six feet in height and width. Allow one foot per plant, so it has adequate space to grow when it matures. Good spacing also promotes good air circulation.
8. Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus Rosa–sinensis)
Chinese hibiscus is a large shrub native to Asia and a member of the Malvaceae family. It is a species of the Hawaiian hibiscus and the most common ornamental species in Hawaii. This plant is cold hardy and will definitely come back in the spring after becoming dormant during the winter season.
– Description
Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis grows to about four to ten feet high and five to eight feet wide. It is a tropical evergreen plant with bold flowers about six inches wide. These flowers grow on a showy central tube.
– Growing Conditions
This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade. The soil must be moist with good drainage, as overwatering this plant will kill its roots (it is possible to recover it after overwatering it). This plant appreciates high humidity and protection from frost and wind.
Plant them at least 12 to 24 feet apart for proper air circulation. Chinese hibiscus has a medium growth rate and is sensitive to environmental changes, which can cause leaf and bud drops. You can start this plant with stem cuttings in a garden or a container.
9. Red Hibiscus (hibiscus coccineus)
The red hibiscus is a herbaceous perennial plant native to the Southeastern United States. It belongs to the Mallow family and is also known as swamp hibiscus because it grows mostly in marshes and swampy areas of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
– Description
The hibiscus coccineus is a large plant commonly grown as a perennial border. It has large bold leaves that add a striking effect to the surrounding area. The flowers mature in late summer and early fall. This plant grows up to six inches wide. These flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
– Growing Red hibiscus
This plant can grow up to six to eight feet tall and two to three feet wide. You can grow them outdoors in the coastal and piedmont regions of North Carolina. Plant it in locations that receive full and partial sun in the afternoon when the temperatures rises. Provide it with moist soils that are not too wet, and you can start it from seed or stem cuttings.
Conclusion
There are many flowers that look like hibiscus, as shown in the list above. Here are a few pointers to consider when choosing to grow any of these flowers:
- To grow any of these flowers requires you to learn a few important details about them, so make sure you do so before planting.
- If you want any of the hibiscus-look-alike flowers that are easy to grow, try hardy hibiscus, rose of Sharon, mango liqueur, or China rose.
- Grow the hibiscus varieties in the garden or in containers you can move around at different times of the year.
- These flowers’ three most important requirements are soil, water, and sunlight. Provide the right quantity to your plants and they will thrive.
- You can also grow perennial hibiscus that is tolerant to cold but will die if temperatures drop to less than 28 degrees Fahrenheit.
Flowers that look like hibiscus are often used to add beauty to the garden or vase, and all these flowers have beautiful blooms so you can grow them together for a colorful mix. Which is your favorite hibiscus plant?
- Growing Brussel Sprouts in Containers – 7 Crucial Steps - May 30, 2023
- How to Care for Carnivorous Plants: Provide The Right Needs - May 26, 2023
- How Long Do Hibiscus Flowers Last: Ways To Elongate - May 24, 2023
