hibiscus

American  

[hahy-bis-kuhs, hi-] / haɪˈbɪs kəs, hɪ- /

noun

hibiscuses plural

1. Also called China rose.  a woody plant, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, of the mallow family, having large, showy flowers: the state flower of Hawaii.

2. any of numerous other plants, shrubs, or trees of the genus Hibiscus, characterized by lobate or dentate leaves and usually profusely blooming flowers.

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hibiscus British  

/ haɪˈbɪskəs /

noun

1. any plant of the chiefly tropical and subtropical malvaceous genus Hibiscus, esp H. rosa-sinensis, cultivated for its large brightly coloured flowers

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• hibiscuses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hibiscus

1700–10; < New Latin, Latin < Greek hibískos mallow

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hibiscus hibiscuses

Depending on your mood, you might continue with Royal Red shrimp served raw with dots of fermented Scotch bonnet pepper and a dusting of spiced red hibiscus flower.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026

It’s meticulously organized perfection: Its various neighborhoods, gated communities, parks, and street are pristine and feature shallow lagoons and golf courses, palm trees and hibiscus, blue skies and backyard swimming pools.

From Slate ● Dec. 18, 2025

Lori Feezor, of Preservation Point, brings us Cucuzza squash, micro tomatoes and different types of hibiscus.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2024

Their menu is seasonal, but they have this really tasty drink called the hibiscus margarita and they line it with Tajin.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2024

Beside this tiny stream, wherever enough earth collected for root-hold, colonies of plants grew, wild grape and little palms, maidenhair fern, hibiscus, and tall pampas grass with feathery rods raised above the spike leaves.

From "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck

In such a garden, you could position ostrich ferns in and around other bog lovers: winterberry, Yaupon holly or river birch, or the herbaceous hardy hibiscuses, swamp lobelias or ligularias.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 8, 2015

Papa stood by the hibiscuses, giving directions, one hand sunk in the pocket of his white tunic while the other pointed from item to car.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

“See, the purple hibiscuses are about to bloom,” Jaja said, as we got out of the car.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Jajas eyes shone as he talked about the hibiscuses, as he held them out so I could touch the cold, moist sticks.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

They seemed to bloom so fast, those red hibiscuses, considering how often Mama cut them to decorate the church altar and how often visitors plucked them as they walked past to their parked cars.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie