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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Hibiscus cannabinus is a ANNUAL/PERENNIAL growing to 1.8 m (6ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. It is in flower from August to September, and the seeds ripen from October to November. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Habitats
Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Oil Oil Root Seed
Edible Uses: Condiment Oil Oil
Young leaves - cooked[74, 105, 177]. Used as a potherb or added to soups[183]. The leaves have an acid flavour like sorrel[2]. Seed - roasted or ground into a flour and made into a kind of cake[105, 177, 183]. Root - it is edible but very fibrousy[144]. Mucilaginous, without very much flavour[144]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[61, 183]. The yield varies from 2 - 10 tonnes per hectare[74] (or is it per acre?).
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antibilious Aphrodisiac Dysentery Poultice Purgative
The juice of the flowers, mixed with sugar and black pepper, is used in the treatment of biliousness with acidity[240]. The seeds are aphrodisiac[240]. They are added to the diet in order to promote weight increase[240]. Externally, they are used as a poultice on pains and bruises[240]. The leaves are purgative[240]. An infusion of the leaves is used in the treatment of coughs[269]. In Ayurvedic medicine, the leaves are used in the treatment of dysentery and bilious, blood and throat disorders. The powdered leaves are applied to Guinea worms in Africa[269]. The peelings from the stems have been used in the treatment of anaemia, fatigue, lassitude, etc[269].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Dye Fibre Friction sticks Oil Oil Paper Plant support Soap making Soil reclamation String
Agroforestry Uses:
Kenaf plants accumulate minerals such as selenium and boron, and can be used as a bioremedial tool for removing these metals from contaminated soil[299, 1519] .Yields a fibre from the stem[1, 123], a very good jute substitute though it is a bit coarser[61]. The fibre strands, which are 1.5 - 3 metres long, are used for making rope, cordage, canvas, sacking, carpet backing, nets, table cloths etc[74, 123, 269]. For the best quality fibre, the stems should be harvested shortly after the flowers open[171, 269]. The best fibre is at the base of the stems, so hand pulling is often recommended over machine harvesting[269]. Yields of about 1.25 tonnes of fibre per hectare are average, though 2.7 tonnes has been achieved in Cuba[74, 269]. The pulp from the stems has been used in making paper[269]. The seed contains between 18 and 35% of an edible semi-drying oil[61, 74]. It is rather similar to groundnut oil, obtained from Arachis hypogaea[240]. The oil is also used for burning, as a lubricant and in making soap, linoleum, paints and varnishes[46, 61, 74, 269]. The seed yield varies from 2 to 10 tonnes per acre[74] (or is it per hectare?). The stems have been used as plant supports for growing runner beans etc[269]. The soot from the stems has been used as a black pigment in dyes[269]. The stem has been used as a base for drilling fire[269].
Special Uses
Food Forest
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Prefers a well-drained humus rich fertile soil in full sun[200]. Tolerates most soils but prefers a light sandy soil[123]. Plants are adapted to a wide range of soils and climatic conditions[171]. Kenaf is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation in the range of 57 to 410cm, an annual temperature range of 11.1 to 27.5°C and a pH in the range of 4.3 to 8.2 (though it prefers neutral to slightly acid)[269]. The plant is frost sensitive and damaged by heavy rains with strong winds[269]. Kenaf is widely cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world, where it is grown mainly as a fibre crop but also for its seeds and leaves[269]. It is not very hardy outdoors in Britain, it really requires a frost free climate[123]. It can, however, probably be grown as an annual. A fast-growing plant, it can be harvested in 3 - 4 months from seed[50, 61]. The plant requires temperatures in the range of 15 - 25°c[169]. It succeeds as a crop as far north in N. America as Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska[160]. Plants are daylight sensitive, they remain vegetative and do not flower until the daylength is less than 12.5 hr/day. Two weeks of very cloudy days will induce flowering as daylength approaches 12.5 hr[269]. The plant has a deep-penetrating taproot with deep-seated laterals[269]. Plants, including any varieties, are partially self-fertile[269].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
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Propagation
Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse. Germination is usually fairly rapid. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. If growing them as annuals, plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer and protect them with a frame or cloche until they are growing away well. If hoping to grow them as perennials, then it is better to grow them on in the greenhouse for their first year and to plant them out in early summer of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Overwinter them in a warm greenhouse and plant out after the last expected frosts.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Kenaf, Brown Indian Hemp, Abirai, Ambada, Ambadi, Ambari, Baguitche-de-mato, Da ma jin, Dare, Deccan Hemp, Ebirai, Egwanyira, Etoke, Folere-burure, Gamboor, Gaynaru, Gogu, Gonkura, Kanjaru, Kanuriya, Karkandji al goz, Kasini, Kolokondwe, Kudrum, Lubeera, Masinzia, Meseka tenga, Mestapat, N'coco, Nalita, Narcino-branco, Nsorogwe, Nyaduwa, Nyarogena, Ombira, Patsan, Paw sai, Pitwa, Pulichhai, Pulimanji, Pundi, Queque, Sankola, Sheria, Sonkwe, Sosoori, Umhlakanye, Wuya,
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Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Afghanistan, Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, Central America, Chad, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Rwanda, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Not listed.
| Related Plants
|
| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Hibiscus acetosella | Cranberry Hibiscus | Annual/Perennial | 1.5 |
9-11
| M | LMH | N | M | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Hibiscus diversifolius | Swamp Hibiscus | Shrub | 1.0 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 1 | |
| Hibiscus heterophyllus | Native Rosella | Shrub | 1.8 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Hibiscus moscheutos | Swamp Rose Mallow, Crimsoneyed rosemallow, Wild Cotton, Common Rosemallow, Eastern Rosemallow, Swamp | Perennial | 2.5 |
6-9
| M | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 2 | |
| Hibiscus mutabilis | Cotton Rose, Dixie rosemallow | Shrub | 3.0 |
7-10
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Hibiscus radiatus | Monarch Rosemallow. Ruby hibiscus, Clavelina | Shrub | 2.0 |
9-11
| M | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Hibiscus rosa-sinensis | Chinese Hibiscus, Shoeblackplant, Hawaiian Hibiscus, Tropical Hibiscus, China Rose, Rose-of-China, S | Shrub | 2.5 |
9-11
| F | LMH | N | M | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Hibiscus sabdariffa | Roselle | Annual/Perennial | 3.0 |
9-12
| | LMH | N | M | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Hibiscus sinosyriacus | Rose Of Sharon | Shrub | 3.0 |
6-9
| M | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Hibiscus syriacus | Rose Of Sharon, Althaea, Shrub Althea, Hardy Hibiscus | Shrub | 3.0 |
5-9
| M | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Hibiscus tilliaceus | Beach Hibiscus, Sea Hibiscus | Tree | 8.0 |
10-12
| F | LM | N | DMWe | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Hibiscus trionum | Flower Of An Hour | Annual/Perennial | 0.6 |
9-11
| F | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Talipariti tiliaceum | Beach Hibiscus, Sea Hibiscus, Cottontree, Mahoe | Tree | 10.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | MWe | 3 | 2 | 4 |
|
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
L.
Botanical References
200266
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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