Plant
Spider Hibiscus
Hibiscus schizopetalusAlso known as Fringed Rosemallow, Japanese Lantern, Coral Hibiscus
Spider hibiscus hangs its delicate blossoms downward on slender, pendulous pedicels, mimicking intricate paper lanterns. The deeply dissected, recurved petals flare outward around an exceptionally long staminal column that exposes pollen and stigma to hovering pollinators. Native to East African coastal forests, this woody shrub thrives in humid understories and relies largely on sunbirds for cross-pollination.
FloweringTropicalEvergreen
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
- Spider mites
- Aphids
- Caterpillars
ThreatsHabitat clearing, coastal development, and invasive vegetation
HabitatsCoastal scrub, moist lowland forests, and thickets
Life span20–50 years
Classification
- FamilyMalvaceae
- SpeciesHibiscus schizopetalus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Viewing: Look upward into the shrub canopy to view the nodding flowers suspended like chandeliers.
- Gardening: Grow in fertile, well-draining soil with ample sunlight and protect from freezing winter temperatures.
Same Genus (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Image unavailablePollinator 
Visitor (c) Sunčana Bradley, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sunčana Bradley · cc-by
Close Relative Andy / Andrew Fogg from near Cambridge, UK / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
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