Hibiscus diversifolius subsp. diversifolius
Native hibiscus, swamp hibiscus, prickly hibiscus
This is a taller and more wiry sprawling tangled thorny shrub with flowers similar to the annual species Hibiscus trionum.
It differs by having broad thin leaves of various shapes, strong almost woody stems with small hooks. Its flowers have a light purple ring around a very dark centre.
The botanical name Hibiscus is of ancient origin used by the Roman poet Virgil for the marsh mallow plant. and diversifolius describes a plant with with differing or varied leaves which is from the Latin diversus and folium; leaf shapes
Found in the northern parts of New Zealand it has been located in other areas but likely planted by gardeners or others wishing to ensure its survival.
It is lalso found in in a range of other countries including tropical Africa, Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, many Pacific Islands and Central and South America.Like Hibiscus trionum it may be a latecomer to NZ.
It likes coastal wetlands and streamsides and canbe found growing with raupo in back dunes or close to brackish streams.
The large dark-centred flowers have a similar dark cenre to H. trionum but with a more purplish colour and a ring of light purple around the dark centre. Flowers only last about 1 day but there are usually flowers out when sun is shining in late summer or autumn.
It grows in dense thickets dense bushes and makes an interesting almost thorny barrier by streamsides and in wetlands.
Leaves are upto 100mm long and 80mm wide, with 3-5 uneven irregular teeth, on long thorny stalk.
The fruit containing the seed is a dry hairy 20mm long capsule.
The photographs above were taken in the Auckland domain in late March 2017 where thay had been cultivated in a large bed in the Hibiscus collection.
This is a taller and more wiry sprawling tangled thorny shrub with flowers similar to the annual species Hibiscus trionum.
It differs by having broad thin leaves of various shapes, strong almost woody stems with small hooks. Its flowers have a light purple ring around a very dark centre.
The botanical name Hibiscus is of ancient origin used by the Roman poet Virgil for the marsh mallow plant. and diversifolius describes a plant with with differing or varied leaves which is from the Latin diversus and folium; leaf shapes
Found in the northern parts of New Zealand it has been located in other areas but likely planted by gardeners or others wishing to ensure its survival.
It is lalso found in in a range of other countries including tropical Africa, Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, many Pacific Islands and Central and South America.Like Hibiscus trionum it may be a latecomer to NZ.
It likes coastal wetlands and streamsides and canbe found growing with raupo in back dunes or close to brackish streams.
The large dark-centred flowers have a similar dark cenre to H. trionum but with a more purplish colour and a ring of light purple around the dark centre. Flowers only last about 1 day but there are usually flowers out when sun is shining in late summer or autumn.
It grows in dense thickets dense bushes and makes an interesting almost thorny barrier by streamsides and in wetlands.
Leaves are upto 100mm long and 80mm wide, with 3-5 uneven irregular teeth, on long thorny stalk.
The fruit containing the seed is a dry hairy 20mm long capsule.
The photographs above were taken in the Auckland domain in late March 2017 where thay had been cultivated in a large bed in the Hibiscus collection.