Even among ancient people, it was customary to endow plants with magical properties, which they associated with ancient legends and bad omens. One such plant is the Chinese rose. Why is hibiscus the flower of death? Reviews of flower growers about its cultivation, superstitions and signs, an explanation of scientists - later in the article.
Hibiscus: origin and distribution
Researchers have discovered beautiful bright flowers in the rainforests of Asia for the first time. In the wild, hibiscus grow in the form of shrubs reaching three meters in height. Chinese rose has become widespread in South America, especially in Argentina, where these flowers are customarily grown in almost every home.
Hibiscus was brought to Europe only in the 18th century, where it came into fashion and was grown in greenhouses and houses. Despite the fact that a lot of superstitions have been attached to him, caring for him and colorful flowering cause only positive feedback from flower growers. Why is hibiscus the flower of death? The answer to this question will be discussed below.
Attitude towards the flower in different countries
In Asia, America and Europe, the Chinese rose is treated differently:
- in Asian countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, the islands of Fiji and Haiti), the plant is considered a cult, holidays and festivals-processions are organized in honor of hibiscus;
- in Malaysia, hibiscus bloom is called a harbinger of imminent we alth, and for unmarried Chinese girls, it promises an intimate wedding and love;
- in Brazil and Argentina, the bloom of the Chinese rose heralds the birth of a he althy baby;
- its Chinese name is indicated by a special hieroglyph interpreted by the word "exquisite";
- in European culture, on the contrary, there are many signs and superstitions associated with hibiscus.
Botanical description
According to the scientific classification, hibiscus belongs to the evergreen shrubs of the Malvaceae family, which can be annual and perennial.
The plant has petiolate, incised leaves. The fruits are formed into a box, which breaks up into 5 parts, inside it are pubescent or smooth seeds in large quantities. The brightest and most beautiful part of the plant is the hibiscus flower (photos of various colors are shown below).
For growing at home in European countries, a greenhouse type of hibiscus is used, called the Chinese rose (lat. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis). Its homeland is the Malay Archipelago, it has flowers of different colors and shapes. Over the past 20 years, geneticists have been able tobring out many new varieties of Chinese rose, which are rightfully considered by flower growers to be one of the main decorations of many home flower beds.
Varieties and hybrids
Hibiscus has a wide species diversity (about 300), however, 2 of its main species are common in Russia and the CIS countries:
- Syrian - grows in the southeast of Transcaucasia, where the subtropical zone is located;
- triple, or northern - common in countries with a continental climate (in the southern regions of Ukraine, in Western Europe, in the regions of the Far East and in Kazakhstan).
The most beautiful and beautiful view is the swamp hibiscus, the flower (photo below) which can reach 12 cm, has a bright purple color, but prefers to grow in a tropical climate.
Hybrid varieties of hibiscus, bred back in Soviet times in Tashkent, are herbaceous plants. One of them - red hibiscus - has the largest flowers, reaching a diameter of 27 cm, and the original "maple" leaves of a reddish hue. In the southern regions of Russia, they are even planted in open ground, but it is preferable to grow a plant at home in a greenhouse.
Signs and superstitions
It should be said right away that all negative signs refer to those cases when a Chinese rose is grown at home. Most often they relate to a situation where the plant suddenly begins to bloom or suddenly fades. This is considered a harbinger of the onset of misfortune.
Most commonsigns that the Chinese rose, or hibiscus is the flower of death:
- According to some reports, the plant is able to absorb the forces of the person in whose house it grows. Supporters of this theory believe that the owner of the flower dies of exhaustion when the Chinese rose blooms long and profusely.
- Other superstitious people claim that a flower planted in the house sows irritation and anger around itself, attracts illness, and then death, and acquires maximum negative power at the time of flowering.
- If the leaves begin to turn yellow and fall off the flower, then someone in the house will get sick.
- The plant was given the nickname "husband race" because it attracts suitors to the mistress bride, and then scares them away, because of which the girl remains unmarried.
- The flower provokes constant quarrels between the wife and husband - the owners of the house, which can lead to divorce.
- Another nickname for hibiscus is "burnet". The plant allegedly sucks energy from its host like a vampire.
However, according to scientists, all these superstitions about hibiscus as a flower of death are not confirmed by anything and are associated with ordinary coincidences. Among flower growers, it is known that, being among other plants, the Chinese rose does no harm to anyone, because they all grow beautifully and do not die.
Explained by scientists
According to biologists, the unusual behavior of the plant (violent flowering and wilting) is evidence of adverse changes in the environment and microclimate in the room where the hibiscus is located. It may be calledthe appearance of mold from dampness or drying out due to high dryness of the air, harmful emissions from nearby industrial enterprises.
The myth that a languishing plant becomes a vampire is also explained by scientists as natural causes. Hibiscus stems and leaves have high absorbent properties, which is why they literally absorb any harmful (even radioactive) air particles. Therefore, the unexpected fall of the green mass indicates a critical amount of harmful radiation. Therefore, instead of getting rid of a diseased plant, it is better to find the cause of unfavorable conditions and deal with it.
Biologists do not advise sounding the alarm about the fall of a few leaves, because this evergreen plant is able to regularly renew its crown, and this is a natural process laid down by nature itself. So to the question of whether it is true that hibiscus is the flower of death, one can definitely answer no. It is better to find out what useful properties such a plant has.
Useful properties of hibiscus
Since ancient times, healers have used all parts of the Chinese rose in many areas:
- In folk medicine. Decoctions were used to treat dysentery and normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, in the treatment of infectious and skin diseases (for the healing of ulcers and boils), as an expectorant to remove sputum when coughing.
- In cooking. The famous healing hibiscus tea is made precisely from the cups of flowers of the edible "Sudanese rose", one of the typeshibiscus.
- In cosmetology and perfumery. Extracts from petals are used to add in the required quantities in the production of perfumes and other cosmetics (creams, ointments, lotions, etc.).
It should be noted that the flowering of hibiscus in the house never causes allergic reactions. This is due to the special structure of the flower, in which all the pollen is stored inside and does not get into the air.
Cultivation of Chinese rose
There is an opinion among flower growers that growing a Chinese rose is not at all difficult. Because of this, many are surprised: why is hibiscus the flower of death? The reviews of even inexperienced amateurs who grow this plant at home testify to the incorrectness of such superstitions.
Chinese rose develops beautifully in perfect harmony with the surrounding plants and the people who care for her. The plant is demanding on the presence of good lighting and prefers spacious pots. The larger the container in which it is planted, the faster the hibiscus grows, reaching a great height even indoors.
The optimum temperature in summer is from +20 to +22 °С, in winter it can be reduced to +14 °С. As a tropical plant, the Chinese rose loves high humidity, so it needs to be sprayed regularly, trying not to get on the buds and flowers. Experts recommend placing a tray filled with water with pebbles or expanded clay to increase air humidity.
Rules of care
Water the plant should be plentiful, but not often, watching the drying of the soil. Top dressing is recommended to be dosed: in the spring - potassium-phosphorus, in the summer during the flowering period - complex, but the flower does not like nitrogen-containing fertilizers.
The most important factor that ensures abundant flowering is proper pruning. Hibiscus should be pruned regularly, every year immediately after flowering, the tip of the stem must be cut off so that young side shoots can grow. It is on them that buds and flowers will appear next year. Also at the beginning of spring, it is recommended to pinch all shoots (even young ones). Tops appearing during the growing season, growing parallel to the trunk, should be cut regularly.
Following all the rules, every flower grower will be able to grow a Chinese rose at home in order to admire how hibiscus blooms in the summer season.
Growing problems
As with all ornamental crops, there are various difficulties and problems that can be experienced when growing Chinese rose. Knowing their cause, you can adjust the care and improve the condition of the plant.
Most common problems:
- Appeared buds do not open, but fall off. The situation can be caused by a lack of moisture in the air and soil, a deficiency of nutrients coming from the soil, and low air temperature in the room.
- Lower leaves fall off, and new ones begin to grow yellow. The problem is related to the high content of chlorine and calcium insoil, lack of nitrogen and iron, and this also happens when the air is too dry or watering is too cold.
- With a good lush crown, the plant does not want to bloom. The situation occurs due to excessive nitrogen fertilization or insufficient lighting, high temperatures during the cold months (when kept in a warm room).
- Pinkish spots on the leaves usually appear when there is too much fertilizer or poor lighting.
Bright and colorful "flower of life"
Correction of mistakes made and compliance with simple rules of care allows flower growers to successfully grow this plant at home. Therefore, many of them leave positive reviews about the "flower of death" hibiscus on the sites of ornamental plant lovers. Why it was called that was described above.
Scientists advise not to believe in bad omens and stories about this beautiful flower. After all, all the problems with its flowering or wilting are explained by completely natural causes. Proper care, watering, pruning and feeding will prevent the death of the flower and not worry about the fate of its owner in the future.
