Mallows, Stringbarks & Allies - Malvales
Native / Non-native
Achiote Family - Bixaceae
Annatto Dye Plant - Bixa orellana Mallow Family - Malvaceae Cotton Tree - Bombax ceiba Spiny-Fruited Vine - Byttneria grandifolia Trailing Abutilon - Callianthe megapotamica Red-Vein Chinese Lantern - Callianthe picta Floss-Silk Tree - Ceiba speciosa Scarlet Dombeya - Dombeya wallichii Chinese Parasol Tree - Firmiana simplex Narrow-Leaved Screwtree - Helicteres angustifolia |
Coastal Heritiera - Heritiera littoralis
Changeable Rose Mallow - Hibiscus mutabilis Chinese Hibiscus - Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Roselle - Hibiscus sabdariffa Coral Hibiscus - Hibiscus schizopetalus Rose of Sharon - Hibiscus syriacus Sea Hibiscus - Hibiscus tiliaceus False Mallow - Malvastrum coromandelianum Turk's Cap - Malvaviscus penduliflorus Microcos - Microcos paniculata Provision Tree - Pachira aquatica Reevesia - Reevesia thyrsoidea Lance-Leaved Sterculia - Sterculia lanceolata |
Sida Hemp - Sida rhombifolia
Subcordate Sida - Sida subcordata Rose Mallow - Urena lobata Notched Leaf Aramina - Urena procumbens Stringbarks - Thymelaceae Incense Tree - Aquilaria sinensis Champion's Daphne - Daphne championii Papery Daphne - Daphne papyracea Indian Wikstroemia - Wikstroemia indica Chinese Wikstroemia - Wikstroemia monnula Nodding Wikstroemia - Wikstroemia nutans |
Achiote Family - Bixaceae
Annatto Dye Plant 紅木 Bixa orellana
This large shrub is from the American tropics. The seeds are used as a dye or colouring.
Mallow Family - Malvaceae
Cotton Tree (Kapok) 木棉 Bombax ceiba
The cotton tree is widely planted around Hong Kong. The red, waxy-petalled flowers appear in February to April, followed swiftly by the seed pods which release large quantities of cottony seeds to the wind in April and May. This is a deciduous tree which loses its leaves in winter.
Spiny-Fruited Vine 刺果藤 Byttneria grandifolia
Trailing Abutilon 蔓性風鈴花 Callianthe megapotamica (was Abutilon megapotamicum)
Red-Vein Chinese Lantern 金鈴花 Callianthe picta (was Abutilon pictum)
Floss-Silk Tree 絲木棉 Ceiba speciosa
A native of tropical South America, it is sometimes grown ornamentally in Hong Kong.
Scarlet Dombeya 吊芙蓉 Dombeya wallichii
Native to India, East Africa and Madagascar this tree is a park ornamental in Hong Kong. Flowers in January and February.
Chinese Parasol Tree 梧桐 Firmiana simplex
Occurring as a catchwater weed on the south side of Hong Kong Island.
Narrow-Leaved Screwtree 山芝麻 Helicteres angustifolia
Despite being called a 'screwtree' in English this is a small plant, flowering in the summer with small purple flowers. It is native to Hong Kong.
Coastal Heritiera 銀葉樹 Heritiera littoralis
Changeable Rose Mallow 木芙蓉 Hibiscus mutabilis
Chinese Hibiscus 朱槿 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
This is the national flower of Malaysia where it is known as 'Bunga raya' which in Malay means 'Great flower'. It is native to East Asia and comes in many different colours, the offspring of one plant often producing differently coloured flowers to its parent. In Hong Kong it is widely grown for ornamental purposes. It probably doesn't survive outdoors any further north as it does not tolerate temperatures below 10 degrees.
Roselle 玫瑰茄 Hibiscus sabdariffa
This species of hibiscus is probably native to West Africa. A drink is made from the plant's calyxes.
Coral Hibiscus 吊燈花 Hibiscus schizopetalus
Rose of Sharon 木槿 Hibiscus syriacus
Sea Hibiscus 黃槿 Hibiscus tiliaceus
Also commonly known as Cuban Bast, despite being native to the Old World tropics. This tree, which flowers from March to October is present along coastal areas of Hong Kong. It is a mangrove associate, often being present in areas with mangrove trees. The red flowers seem to be produced at the height of summer only, the normal yellow flowers at other times.
False Mallow 賽葵 Malvastrum coromandelianum
Turk's Cap 垂花懸鈴花 Malvaviscus penduliflorus
This plant is also known as 'Sleeping Hibiscus'. It is not native to Hong Kong and is often grown as an ornamental. It grows up to 2 metres in height.
Microcos 破布葉 Microcos paniculata
A small tree 3-12m in height, native to Hong Kong. Small white flowers in June and July. Small berries from July to December, turning from green to brown to black.
Provision Tree 瓜栗 Pachira aquatica
Reevesia 梭羅樹 Reevesia thyrsoidea
Flowering in April and May, native to Hong Kong it could equally be used as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens.
Sida Hemp 白背黃花稔 Sida rhombifolia
Subcordate Sida 榛葉黃花稔 Sida subcordata
Lance-leaved Sterculia 假蘋婆 Sterculia lanceolata
Also known as 'Scarlet Sterculia'. The flowers which occur from December to May are small and inconspicuous. The 5-lobed scarlet follicle appears at the height of summer. Each lobe of the fruit splits to reveal 1 to 4 black seeds along each edge. The sight of the five-sectioned fruit is indicative of the hot, humid summers in Hong Kong.
Rose Mallow 肖梵天花 Urena lobata
This is an erect shrub-like grass with tiny pink flowers. It's also known as 'sticky hag' due to its seeds which stick on to passers-by. Also known as 'Aramina'. This Urena species is the most common of two in Hong Kong. The other (Urena procumbens) has similar flowers, but the leaves are bi-coloured with a dark green edge and a more indented shape.
Notched Leaf Aramina 梵天花 Urena procumbens
Stringbarks - Thymelaceae
Incense Tree 牙香樹 Aquilaria sinensis
It is an evergreen tree with sweet-scented wood and a native of southern China. In the past its wood was used to make incense sticks. As Hong Kong became a major export centre for the wood, so the area was named 'Heung Gong', which means fragrant harbour. Mature specimens of this tree have become highly endangered as tree thieves from China raid Hong Kong for the last remaining incense trees.
Champion's Daphne 小葉瑞香 Daphne championii
Papery Daphne 白瑞香 Daphne papyracea / Daphne cannabina
A mountain plant normally growing at altitudes of over 700 metres. Found on Tai Mo Shan in Hong Kong. It is called a lokta bush in Nepal and is used for making lokta paper.
Indian Wikstroemia 了哥王 Wikstroemia indica
Chinese Wikstroemia 北江蕘花 Wikstroemia monnula
A small bush, found on upland areas of Lantau Island. Flowering from Dec to Apr.
Nodding Wikstroemia 細軸蕘花 Wikstroemia nutans
A small tree native to Hong Kong it flowers from January to April, the flowers resembling tiny, closed, handle-less, yellow umbrellas.