Hibiscus tiliaceus

Hibiscus tiliaceus is a small, evergreen tree that came to Israel from the tropical islands of the Pacific. As a tropical plant, the tree has fresh, green foliage. The tree leaves are characteristically heart-shaped, wide and large. They bloom red and turn light green before darkening. The leaves’ underside is hairy. The tree trunk is gray and smooth. The tree’s flowering is yellow and impressive with large flowers that are typical of Hibiscus. The flowers turn red in the afternoon and fall in the evening. The tree’s fruit are capsules that contain smooth bean-like seeds, which are not bothersome. The tree is suitable for most parts of the country, and it requires minimal water. It will thrive and stay fresh in summer if it receives auxiliary watering. It is suitable for all types of soil and is second line salt tolerant. It should be noted that in the global literature, as well as in the well-known horticultural book by Nissim Pines, the Hibiscus tiliaceus is described as suitable as a first line coastal plant. This has not yet been tested in Israel as far as we know, and here it is standard to plant it in the second line. The tree’s lignin is flexible and was used in the past to seal holes in boats as well as to build canoes. The fibers of the wood are used to weave ropes. In the tropical islands where the tree comes from, its components were used as food and for folk medicine.

Due to the tree’s rapid growth, we recommend diligence in pruning the tree to shape it correctly to prevent the growth of a problematic structure prone to breakage and the collapse of branches.

Hibiscus tiliaceus is very similar to Thespesia populnea in the shape of the leaves and the flowers, but the Hibiscus leaves are larger than those of the Thespesia. We recommend using expert help when trying to distinguish between the cultivars to avoid mistakes.

Related Species: Hibiscus tiliaceus | Hibiscus tiliaceus ‘Sitria’