Hibiscus acetosella aka Cranberry Hibiscus

Hibiscus acetosella is known as cranberry hibiscus or false roselle. It belongs to the mallow family, Malvaceae. NC State places its origin in eastern and southern tropical Africa. Useful Tropical Plants questions whether truly wild plants exist. It records naturalized plants in forest edges, savannah, and fallow ground. Gardeners grow it for food and its rich leaf color. It serves as an annual in warm temperate gardens.

This frost-tender sub-shrub can live for more than one year. Its stems can become woody and persist in warm places. Garden plants reach 3–5 feet (0.9–1.52 metres) tall. Their spread ranges from 1–2.5 feet (0.3–0.76 metres). Useful Tropical Plants gives a broader height range, reaching 6.6 feet (2 metres). Growth is fast, upright, and sometimes thin or leggy. Deep red-purple stems carry simple leaves in an alternate pattern. Leaves may have deep, hand-shaped lobes or lack lobes. Their colors include maroon, dark purple, crimson, and green.

Single flowers grow where each leaf joins the stem. They are often maroon or crimson, about two inches across. Leaves can hide the blooms from view. Flowers appear from late summer through fall, sometimes into winter. Short days prompt flowering, but frost may kill plants first. Flowers form on new growth, which matters when pruning. Bees visit the plant, and insects pollinate its flowers. Useful Tropical Plants also records it as self-fertile.

NC State recommends full sun and soil that drains well. PFAF reports that it grows in sun but prefers some shade. PFAF also favors fertile soil rich in humus. Keep soil moist rather than wet for good growth. NC State lists USDA hardiness zones 9a through 11b. Plants may spend winter indoors when outdoor cold threatens them. Pinching stem tips helps plants form a fuller shape. Seeds and stem cuttings provide ways to raise new plants. Borders, pots, and seasonal hedges suit its upright form. It can also serve as a food-garden barrier.

NC State reports no serious pest or disease problems. PFAF records resistance to root-knot nematodes. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. They have a sour taste and a slippery texture. Cooks add them to salads, soups, and stews. PFAF also lists the root as an edible part. Red flowers are sometimes used to make tea. Traditional uses include leaf infusions after fever and for anaemia. These records describe uses, not proof that treatments work. PFAF and Useful Tropical Plants list no known hazards.