Hibiscus acetosella

Red-leaved hibiscus

Herbaceous plant up to 2 metres in height with brownish-red and green mottled foliage. The stems are upright and thin, with 3- to 5-lobed, deeply furrowed, delicate leaves. This hibiscus species produces dark red to wine-red flowers with prominent fine veins and five bright red petals. The fruit is a reddish capsule containing up to five dark seeds.

The delicate young leaves of the red-leaved hibiscus are a little reminiscent of sorrel as they have a slightly sour, fresh taste and are eaten like spinach in parts of Africa and Brazil.

We dry red-leaved hibiscus for tea and spice blends and harvest it for the kitchen where it is used in salads, as spinach or for decoration. The beautiful flower is a great bonus for visitors to our garden.

Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Angola

Malvaceae (Mallow family)

Rühlemann’s Kräuter

The delicate young leaves of the red-leaved hibiscus are a little reminiscent of sorrel as they have a slightly sour, fresh taste and are eaten like spinach in parts of Africa and Brazil.

We dry red-leaved hibiscus for tea and spice blends and harvest it for the kitchen where it is used in salads, as spinach or for decoration. The beautiful flower is a great bonus for visitors to our garden.

Hibiscus acetosella
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