About
Abelmoschus esculentus is a perennial plant native to tropical areas, often cultivated as an annual in cooler climates. The leaves are hairy and intricately divided into 5 to 7 lobes. During the summer, it produces pale yellow flowers, similar in appearance to those of hibiscus, measuring approximately 7 cm across, each featuring a dark center. These blooms are succeeded by edible green seed pods.
About the genus
Abelmoschus comprises annual or perennial plants characterized by their hairy texture, large leaves that are typically lobed in a palmate fashion, and flowers resembling those of hibiscus. These 5-petaled blooms can be found in the leaf axils or arranged in terminal racemes.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H2
Plant details
- Plant type
- Annual Biennial, Herbaceous Perennial, Herbs - Culinary
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 1-1.5 metres
- Spread
- 1-1.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1 year
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, Sub-tropical
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Best grown under glass or in a polytunnel but can be planted outside in a warm, sunny, sheltered position in a container or in the ground when soil temperature has risen to 15°C. See okra cultivation for further advice
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to slugs, snails, glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to powdery mildews