China rose known colloquially as Chinese hibiscus, Hawaiian hibiscus, rose mallow and shoeblackplant, is a species of tropical hibiscus, a flowering plant in the Hibisceae tribe of the family Malvaceae. It is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, but is not known in the wild, so that its native distribution is uncertain. An origin in some part of tropical Asia is likely. It is widely grown as an ornamental plant in the tropics and subtropics.

Nobody knows whether the hibiscus really is a native of China as its latin name, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, (rosa-sinensis = Chinese Rose) suggests or not. Many believe, it comes from India. This large shrub or small tree grows to 15 feet high. The toothed leaves are arranged alternately and vary a lot, but tend to be large, dark green, and shiny. This plant has a coarse texture and may be upright or broad and spreading. It is often many-stemmed. Flowers are glorious and huge at their best -- up to 6" in diameter -- and occur in many colors. Most are flared and have a bell shape and may be single or double, smooth or scalloped. They have a long central tube with stamens and pistils at the tip.

Shrubs, about 2-4 m tall. Stems woody, glabrous, branchlets, sparsely pubescent with simple and stellate hairs. Leaves simple, alternate or rarely lobed, broadly ovate to lanceolate, about 5-13 x 3-9 cm across, base cuneate to rounded, 3-5 veined, midrib usually with obscure nectarines, margins crenate-serrate to dentate throughout, apex acute to acuminate, membranous, glabrous above and with sparse stellate hairs beneath, petiole with sparse stellate hairs, about 1.5-4 cm long, stipules lanceolate, subulate, glabrous, about 3-11 mm long. Inflorescence usually axillary, solitary, by the reduction of the upper leaves. Flowers bisexual, about 6-12 cm across, pedicel slender, jointed towards the apex, pubescent with hairs beneath, about 1-1.5 cm long, epicalyx 5-8, base connate, apex forked with one leaf lobe, about 0.5-1 cm long, calyx 5 lobed, distinctly nerved, campanulate, lobes broadly lanceolate, base connate, apex acute to acuminate, valvate, sometimes with nectarines, persistent, with stellate and glandular hairs outside, about 1-2 cm long, corolla showy and large, yellow, white, orange, and purple at the base, campanulate. Staminal column about 4-9 cm long, filaments about 3-9 mm long, anthers basifixed, throughout. Ovary superior, 5 locular, axile placentation, style about 5-5 mm long, stigma discoid, capitates, reddish or orange. Fruit capsule, globose, are formed rarely, about 2.5-3 cm across, apex beaked or rounded, seeds reniform, about 5 mm across, dark brown to black.

The flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis are edible and are used in salads in the Pacific Islands. The flower is additionally used in hair care as a preparation. It is also used to shine shoes in certain parts of India. It can also be used as a pH indicator. When used, the flower turns acidic solutions to a dark pink or magenta color and basic solutions to green. It is also used for the worship of Devi, and the red variety is especially prominent, having an important part in tantra. In the Bengal area of eastern India, the red variety of this flower is used to worship Kali. In Indonesia, these flowers are called "kembang sepatu", which literally means "shoe flower". In several countries the flowers are dried to use in a beverage, usually tea.