African rosemallow
Sabdariffa acetosella (Welw. ex Hiern) M.M.Hanes & R.L.Barrett
African rosemallow is often grown for its red-flushed foliage as much as its flowers. The Singapore botanical account describes annual or short-lived perennial plants reaching about half a metre to two and a half metres. Red-leaved forms are cultivated as ornamentals and temporary hedges, including outside the plant’s native African range. Singapore NParks: Hibiscus acetosella
Botanical name
Kew accepts the 2025 combination Sabdariffa acetosella, based on the catalog’s Hibiscus acetosella Welw. ex Hiern. Kew POWO: Sabdariffa acetosella
Recognizing the plant
Leaves vary from nearly undivided to deeply cut into three to five lobes, and can reach about eight centimetres across. Flowers arise in the leaf axils. Beneath each flower is a ring of narrow bracts whose tips fork into differently shaped lobes. Petals may be dark red or yellow with a purple base in the African flora’s description. The fruit is a pointed, egg-shaped capsule covered in stiff hairs, containing small seeds. Flora of Somalia via Kew: Hibiscus acetosella
Native range
Its native range extends from Burundi into southern tropical Africa, including Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Kew places it chiefly in the seasonally dry tropical biome. Kew POWO: Sabdariffa acetosella
Ecological relationships
NParks reports that self-pollination is usual, although insects can also transfer pollen between plants. Singapore NParks: Hibiscus acetosella
Botanical sources
- Kew POWO: Sabdariffa acetosella
- Flora of Somalia via Kew: Hibiscus acetosella
- Singapore NParks: Hibiscus acetosella
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.