Family: Malvaceae

Coral hibiscus is a tall weeping hedge. Delicate blossoms with unique frilled petals hang like a pendant. Although it can get leggy, it tolerates pruning well and produces striking flowers throughout the year.  It is drought tolerant and pest resistant.

Plant Uses:

• Container plant
• Ornamental
• Privacy / screening
• Specimen

Plant Dangers:

• No dangers

High Risk Traits:

• Broad climate suitability (cold temperate to tropical)
  
• History of repeated introductions outside native range
  
• Congeneric weeds exist
  
• Host for pests/pathogens (e.g., cotton weevil)
  
• Tolerates wide range of soil conditions (including coastal salt)
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• Hybridizes naturally (with H. rosa-sinensis)
  
• Tolerates mutilation/pruning and recovers quickly from freeze

Low Risk Traits:

• No evidence of naturalization or weediness
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Not allelopathic, parasitic, or toxic
  
• No evidence of vegetative fragmentation
  
• Requires specialist pollinators (bird pollination syndrome)
  
• No evidence of prolific seed production (often fails to set seed in cultivation)
  
• Propagules not adapted for wind, water, bird, or animal dispersal
  
• No evidence of seed bank persistence