Abelmoschus
ah-bel-MOS-kus. Mallow family, Malvaceae.
The members of this genus of 15 or so heat-loving annuals or tender perennials hail from the tropics of Asia. They bear five-petaled, hibiscus-like blooms singly in leaf axils or in racemelike clusters. (Abelmoschus species were all once classified in Hibiscus.) Two species of tender perennials, hardy to Zone 9, are commonly grown as annuals. Both have handsome, dark green, palmately lobed leaves that lend a tropical air to beds and borders and produce an abundance of flowers, each of which lasts only a day, from late summer to frost. Okra (A. esculentus), cultivated for its young seed pods, also is a well-known member of the genus.
How to Grow
Full sun, warm temperatures and rich, well-drained soil are ideal. Sow seeds indoors in individual peat pots eight to 10 weeks before the last spring frost date, and germinate at 50° to 55°F. Transplant after the weather has settled in spring (indoor sowing is especially helpful north of Zone 6 and in any area where spring is cool and rainy). Seedlings resent transplanting, so handle them carefully. Or in areas with long growing seasons, sow outdoors after the last frost date. Plants take about three months to bloom from seeds. Feed with a balanced fertilizer in midsummer. Both species self sow in mild climates.
A. manihot p. (pictured at right)
a. MAN-ih-hot. Sunset Hibiscus.
A shrubby plant reaching 5 to 6 feet in height by summer's end. Lush, 1- to 1 1/2-foot-long leaves. Pale lemon yellow 5- to 6-inch-wide flowers with burgundy centers. Tender perennial.
A. moschatus p. (pictured above left)
a. moe-SHAW-tus. Musk Mallow.
Compact, bushy plants that stay between 1 1/2 to 2 feet in northern gardens but reach 4 feet or more in warm climates. Leaves ranging from 2 to 3 inches to as much as 1 foot in length. Showy, 3-inch wide flowers with white centers come in shades of pink, orange-red and scarlet. Tender perennial.
For the Plant Of The Month index click here.
The above copyrighted information is adapted with permission from the "Taylor’s Guide to Annuals: How to select and grow more than 400 annuals, biennials, and tender perennials," (Houghton Mifflin, 1999, softcover) written by Barbara W. Ellis and published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. The Exclusive Online Only Author's Note comes directly from Ellis and is not included in the book.
Ellis is also the author of "Taylor's Guide to Growing North America's Favorite Plants: A detailed, how-to-grow guide to selecting, planting, and caring for the best classic plants." (Houghton Mifflin, 1998, softcover). Country Living magazine called this comprehensive reference "The 'must-have' gardening book of the year."
For more information about these books, please visit your local bookseller.
Images provided by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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