It’s hibiscus season again. The plants in my yard are in full, incredible bloom! I have seen various flowering plants — I understand there are over 200 varieties — but when I bought these several years ago I didn’t know that. I bought them because they were so vibrant and exciting. I knew I had to add them to my garden.
So much energy is put into the plant’s flowering. The flowers are nine or ten inches each! And an enticing red. Each spring as I look at the bleached remnants of last years stalks, I wonder if the plants have used up their vitality in last year’s growth. But then they are sending up green shoots and buds appear and wow, the blossoms open and once again they knock my socks off. It’s quite a display for a plant whose name means "delicate beauty." Perhaps that refers less to the physical characteristics of the hibiscus than to its essence. Lots of benefits have been ascribed to the hibiscus.
Have you ever had hibiscus tea? I must have. It's pretty hard not to have tasted it. Hibiscus is in lots of herbal teas and comes available with blueberry, coconut, vanilla, pineapple, even sangria flavors among others. Yogi Tea, Tazo, Republic of Tea, Stash, even Lipton all have hibiscus varieties.
Have you shampooed with the flower? I haven’t but it is tempting. It supposedly nourishes hair and slows premature graying (a little late for me, there). I wonder if it colors the hair. This might be something to experiment with.
Have you eaten hibiscus? I never knew the plant was edible, though I have eaten nasturtiums, taken from my flowerpot one year. It had a peppery taste. I’ve been reading that the hibiscus flower can be added to salads, is available as hibiscus honey and syrup, and can be made into tea at home.
Have you used hibiscus medicinally? Can’t say I have. This needs looking into. The plant has a long history of medical use. Claims have been made for its use as an antioxident, as a help in keeping the digestive tract functioning regularly, is a help in weight loss, etc. There’s quite a long list of healthy possibilities.
There are so many aspects to this plant. But I guess that goes for all of nature, people included. There is no point in taking anything for granted because there is usually something unexpected, un-thought of, surprising, enlightening, fascinating, helpful about everything if we remain open to it. I find that exciting.