A glabrate, 1-5 m tall shrub. Leaves 4-8 cm long, 2-5 cm broad, lobed or not, ovate to broadly ovate, serrate-dentate; stipules 5-10 mm long, linear; petiole 0.5-2 cm long. Flowers axillary, solitary, erect or subpendulous, single or double; pedicel 1-8 cm long, articulate near the top. Epicalyx segments 6-9, 5-15 mm long, linear or linear-lanceolate. Calyx tubular-campanulate, 1.5-2.5 cm long; lobes 5-15 mm long, triangular to lanceolate. Corolla 4-9 cm across, pinkish to red, with or without dark centre, petals obovate or oblong-obovate, 5-9 cm long, 3-7 cm broad, obtuse or irregularly lobed at apex. Staminal column exserted, antherifierous near the apex. Capsule c. 2 cm long, glabrous, ovoid.

Type: Herb. Hermann, Vol. III. fol. 4. Linn. n. 260 (BM!).

Distribution: It has been said to be native to China. But its native home is still unknown. It is presumed that it originated in East Africa as the related species Hibiscus schizopetalus L. was first collected in wild stage in this area (Borssum Waalkes 1966).

It is most extensively cultivated as an ornamental plant and occurs in many forms in Pakistan.