Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Variegata'

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis , the Chinese hibiscus, is also known as the "house hibiscus" and has been cultivated in China, Japan, and the Pacific Islands since ancient times. Its exact origin is unknown, but it is believed to have originated in Vanuatu. There are hundreds (perhaps even thousands?) of different cultivars with all sorts of flower colors and sizes. Even the wild form has very spectacular, bright red flowers.

This cultivar is something completely different! While the flowers are identical to those of the wild form (solid red), it's the leaves of the 'Variegata' variety that immediately catch the eye. They are variegated in three colors, with pure white, light green, and dark green areas. Each leaf has a unique pattern with varying proportions of color. In our experience, this cultivar never fully turns green. However, the amount of white in the leaves decreases with insufficient light and during the winter.

Despite its unique leaf coloration, this form is just as easy to care for as a normal indoor hibiscus and tends to grow even faster and is more robust than many highly "bred" flowering monsters.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis grows as a bush up to 3 meters high, but can be kept smaller and in shape by pruning.