Posted on October 17, 2010, Sunday
THE Hibiscus is a flower familiar to most, if not, all Malaysians since it is our national flower and we see it everyday.
For instance, the Hibiscus can be found on Malaysian Ringgit notes and coins and during all National Day and Malaysia Day celebrations. The red Hibiscus was chosen as our national flower for several reasons. The five petals symbolise the Rukunegara (Five Principles of Nationhood) while the red colour represents courage.
Hibiscus plants are also seen in most Malaysian gardens but the most common is the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. In the Hibiscus genus, there are many species which include single or several colours. Presently, there are more than 8,000 different species in the world. In the US, Hibiscus enthusiasts form clubs to organise flower shows, competitions, conventions and publications every year and their members come from over 45 countries, including Malaysia.
A researcher in Taiwan managed to develop small Hibiscus plants which can be grown in pots and these will be showcased in the Flower Convention in Taipei later this year. Hibiscus with scents have also been successfully researched since two years ago. In Kuching, a couple has worked hard over the past years to create different Hibiscus breeds and are making their way to Taiwan. Hibiscus are available in a variety of colours except blue and black because these are not readily available in their genes. However, in Tahiti, the locals have managed to breed many types of blue Hibiscus, breaking the flower’s typical colour pattern. So far, black Hibiscus are still not seen and the closest we have to black is dark coloured flowers or flowers with black spots.
The wide variety of Hibiscus colours is the result of pollination from different coloured plants. If fertilisation is successful, a bulb containing seeds will be left behind after the petals wilt. There will be usually two to 12 seeds. However, it is not always smooth sailing. If fertilisation is unsuccessful, the bulb will turn yellow after a few days, or it will wilt and drop. Empty bulbs are another result of unsuccessful fertilisation. Formation of seeds depends on the weather, pest damage and amount of rainwater.
The rate of formation of Hibiscus seeds is very low and rarity of seeds makes it more valuable. In the international market, seeds are auctioned for at least US$1 and above for one seed while US$10 for each seed is not unheard of. Every seed will result in different coloured flowers even if they come from the same bulb. Strangely, a new generation of Hibiscus will have different colours from their parents. This is the joy of planting Hibiscus. You won’t know what colour your flower is going to turn out. It will take six to 12 months for the plant to grow and the sense of anticipation will grow along with it. We might be disappointed if the colours turn out to be common but imagine the joy when we get a rare coloured flower!
