Hibiscus (tiliaceus)
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Kim Wilkinson Craig Elevitch Permanent Agriculture Resources P.O. Box 428 Holualoa, Hawaii 96725 808-324-4427 808-324-4129 (fax) par@agroforestry.net www.agroforestry.net |
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| Family Scientific Name: | Malvaceae | ||
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| Family Common Name: | Mallow | ||
| Scientific Name: | Hibiscus tiliaceus L. | ||
| Common Name: | beach hibiscus tree; beach mallow; vau (Fiji); fau (Tonga, Samoa); 'au (Cooks); purau (Societies); fau; hau (Marquesas); hau (Hawaii) | ||
| Ecotype: | coastal areas, riverbanks, lowlands and mesic forests 0 to 500 m elevation | ||
| General Distribution: | Classified as native to Pacific Islands including Hawaii, although in some areas it may be an aboriginal introduction. Now pantropical in distribution. | ||
| Known Invasiveness: | This species is widely introduced throughout other tropical regions of the world where it may be invasive in some areas and invasiveness outside its naturally occurring range is unknown. | ||
| Propagation Goal: | plants | ||
| Propagation Method: | vegetative | ||
| ProductType: | Container (plug) | ||
| Time To Grow: | 3 Months | ||
| Target Specifications: | Cutting height: 20-45 cm, stem diameter: 1-3 cm for direct field outplanting. If plants are to be propagated from cuttings in the nursery, smaller sized cuttings may be used. | ||
| Propagule Collection: | Cuttings can be collected any time of year. Make a clean cut with a sharp pruner or saw. Remove leaves. On wet sites, branches of H. tiliaceous may bend down and take root; if desired, cuttings with roots attached can be collected from prostrate branches. | ||
| Propagule Processing: | Cuttings should be planted as soon as possible after collection. If immediate planting is not possible, cuttings should be stood upright in a bucket of water and kept moist and in the shade. | ||
| Pre-Planting Treatments: | Medium-strength rooting hormones such as rootoneF or #3 Hormex may be applied as a pretreatment; however, it is not required. | ||
| Establishment Phase: | Cuttings are buried 1/2 to 2/3 of their length deep in moist soil. Make sure the soil is firm around the base of the cutting. | ||
| Length of Establishment Phase: | 4 weeks | ||
| Active Growth Phase: | Removing weeds from the base and root zone around cuttings is essential to establishment. A weed barrier mulch (such as a sheet of cardboard or other decomposing material) can make weed control around trees easy. If conditions are dry, supplemental water may be supplied once or twice a week until cuttings are established (in about 4 months). Once established, very little maintenance is required. | ||
| Length of Active Growth Phase: | 2 months | ||
| References: |
Allen, J.A. 2002. Hibiscus tiliaceus. in: Vozzo, J.A. (Ed). Tropical Tree Seed Manual. USDA Agriculture Handbook 721. Bornhorst, Heidi L. 1996. Growing native Hawaiian plants: a How-to Guide for the Gardener. The Bess Press, Honolulu. Clarke, W.C. and R.R. Thaman. Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability. United Nations University Press, New York. Little, Elbert L. and Roger G. Skolmen. 1989. Common Forest Trees of Hawai`i (Native and Introduced). United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook 679. Neal, M.C. 1965. In Gardens of Hawaii. Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Honolulu. Weaver, P.L. and J.K. Francis. 1989. Hibiscus elatus Sw. Institute of Tropical Forestry, Rio Piedras, PR. |
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Citation:
Elevitch, Craig R.; Wilkinson, Kim M.. 2004. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Hibiscus tiliaceus L. plants Permanent Agriculture Resources Holualoa, Hawaii. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/21). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.
