About
Abelmoschus manihot is a tropical perennial that is often cultivated as an annual in cooler climates. This plant forms a substantial clump of leaves that can be either five or seven lobed. Its flowers emerge in a spiral pattern, blooming sequentially, and can reach up to 15 cm in diameter. The blooms are lemon yellow with a prominent dark purple center. After flowering, it produces green, hairy 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
- Herbaceous Perennial, Annual Biennial
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 1 year
- Suggested uses
- Sub-tropical, Cottage and informal garden
- Native to
- SE Asia
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Start off under glass and plant out in a sunny, sheltered position with well-drained, fertile soil, after all frost risk has passed
- Pruning
- Cut back stems as they finish flowering
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed, or by softwood cuttings in early summer
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to slugs, snails, glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly
- Disease resistance
- Susceptible to powdery mildews