- White hibiscus flowers symbolize purity, beauty and elegance
- Yellow hibiscus flowers are associated with happiness, sunshine and good luck
- Pink hibiscus flowers have the meaning of friendship and are expressions of all kinds of feelings of love and affection
- The purple hibiscus flower is associated with mystery and a symbol of class
Full Answer
What is the meaning of Purple Hibiscus?
Everything you need for every book you read. The purple hibiscus, the symbol that gives the novel its title, is a flower growing in Aunty Ifeoma ’s garden. It was created by her botanist friend, as hibiscuses aren’t usually purple.
What is the symbol in the Purple Hibiscus by Aunty Ifeoma?
The purple hibiscus, the symbol that gives the novel its title, is a flower growing in Aunty Ifeoma ’s garden. It was created by her botanist friend, as hibiscuses aren’t usually purple. Jaja is struck by the appearance of the flower, and through them he discovers his love of gardening,...
How long do purple satin Hibiscus Bloom?
Hibiscus syriacus Purple Satin® (Rose of Sharon) is a bushy deciduous shrub of graceful habit, noted for its deep purple, single flowers adorned with a prominent red eye. Blooming continuously from midsummer to fall, each flower lasts about one day and stands out against the green foliage of broadly ovate leaves.
What does Hibiscus look like when it blooms?
Tropical hibiscus flowers come in a wide variety of colors and can be single or double blooms Hibiscus flowers are trumpet-shaped, showy blooms that often have brightly-colored ruffled petals. The funnel-like flowers can grow between 3” and 10” (7.5 – 25 cm) across.
See more
The Purple Hibiscus Quotes in Purple Hibiscus
The Purple Hibiscus quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Purple Hibiscus. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one: ).
The Purple Hibiscus Symbol Timeline in Purple Hibiscus
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Purple Hibiscus appears in Purple Hibiscus. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
What Does Hibiscus Mean?
The word “hibiscus” translates almost perfectly to the Greek word “hibiscus,” which means mallow. Since the hibiscus plant is in the mallow family, this makes a lot of sense. The plant’s scientific name is Hibiscus rosa-sinensis but can be referred to as simply hibiscus.
What Does a Hibiscus Symbolize?
Hibiscus flowers are considered very feminine. Therefore, they are usually given to women. In North America, hibiscus flowers are used to symbolize the perfect woman or wife. Otherwise, the meaning of the flower varies depending on its color and the culture in which it is given.
What is the Cultural Significance of a Hibiscus?
The national flower of Haiti, hibiscus flowers are also highly revered in Hawaii. They are the official state flower of Hawaii despite the fact that they are not native to Hawaii. Both yellow and red hibiscus flowers have been used as the state flower here.
What is the Symbolism of a Hibiscus Tattoo?
Often, people get a hibiscus tattoo to symbolize their respect for the state of Hawaii. However, the flower can also symbolize things like friendship, passion, love, and desire, so it’s not out of the question for someone to choose a hibiscus tattoo for one of these reasons, either.
When Should You Give Someone a Hibiscus?
Hibiscus flowers, depending on their colors, are appropriate for just about any occasion. They have short lives, but are commonly given to symbolize fame, youth, and beauty. They are perfect flowers to help you enjoy beautiful moments that may be only fleeting – but nevertheless add a touch of tropical elegance to any occasion.
Hibiscus Flowers
Hibiscus flowers are trumpet-shaped, showy blooms that often have brightly-colored ruffled petals. The funnel-like flowers can grow between 3” and 10” (7.5 – 25 cm) across. A feature of most hibiscus flowers is the long colorful protruding stamens emerging from the flower’s center.
Hibiscus Leaves
Leaves of tropical hibiscus (left) vs. leaves of hardy hibiscus (right). Tropical hibiscus plants tend to have darker glossier green leaves, whereas hardy hibiscus leaves are duller green and are usually heart-shaped
Types of Hardy Hibiscus (Rose Mallow)
Rose mallow ( Hibiscus moscheutos) is a species of hardy hibiscus shrubs famous for their large tropical-looking blooms. Also called swamp rose mallow, cultivars from these hardy hibiscuses thrive in zones 5 through 9, with some even surviving in zone 4.
Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus grandiflorus)
The swamp rose mallow has huge hollyhock-like pale pink flowers that grow between 6” and 10” (15 – 25 cm) across. This hibiscus cultivar is also called the large-flowered hibiscus. The Hibiscus grandiflorus is a prolific bloomer, with masses of new flowers appearing every day during summer.
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
Rose of Sharon ( Hibiscus syriacus) is another hardy perennial hibiscus species with flowers that look tropical. Rose of Sharon cultivars tend to grow taller than other hardy hibiscus varieties. However, they also produce showy displays of gorgeous flowers during summer and fall.
Tropical Hibiscus Varieties
The most common tropical hibiscus cultivars are from the species Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. These spectacular flowering shrubs only grow in zones 10 through 12, with a few suitable for zone 9. Generally, it’s harder to care for tropical hibiscus as they require constant moisture to keep blooming throughout the year.
The idea
The purple hibiscus is a novel set in post-colonial Nigeria and follows the story of Kambili as she grapples with changes in her life.
History
The novel is written against a backdrop of a changing Nigerian society, coming just a few decades after independence from English rule. Post-colonial Nigeria is a country facing economic and political challenges, with new and emerging industrialists and elites such as Eugene, imposing their dominance against traditional Igbo culture.
Problems
Colonialism and Politics is a central theme and problem that is addressed in the novel Purple Hibiscus. Eugene is a product of colonial rule and believes that traditional beliefs have no room in modern Nigeria.
Description of main characters
The novel’s entire plot revolves around Kambili, as she is the narrator of the story. She is a 15-year-old girl, one of the two children of Eugene and Beatrice Achike. Due to her father’s tyranny, she has grown up shy and doesn’t express herself.
Hibiscus Care
The care you provide your hibiscus will vary depending on whether it is a hardy or tropical variety and whether it is grown indoors or outdoors.
Types of Hibiscus
There are hundreds of tropical and hardy hibiscus hybrids and cultivars available. Just a few popular varieties include:
Pruning
Hardy hibiscus benefit from annual winter pruning once they are established. Cutting the plant back after flowering, especially dead, damaged, and diseased branches and old wood growing in the center of the plant can aid air circulation and keep the plant looking tidy. Don't worry if you cut back aggressively; this species can handle it.
Propagating Hibiscus
Most hibiscus propagation is from cuttings. Select a four- to six-inch piece stem from new, vigorous growth. Keep the leaves at the top of the stem but remove all the rest. You might want to dip the cut end in rooting hormone before potting in a well-drained, moist potting soil. It can take a couple of months for the root system to fully develop.
How to Grow Hibiscus From Seed
Growing hibiscus from seeds is more challenging than propagating from cuttings. They often take a long time to germinate and need a fair bit of attention.
Potting and Repotting Hibiscus
Nutrient-loving potted hibiscus will benefit from being repotted every couple of years in early spring. Avoid deep pots, otherwise the plant will spend a lot of its energy on root development, and you want it to focus on flower production.
Common Pests
Hibiscus are not bothered by many pests or diseases, but red spider mites can be problematic when humidity levels are not high enough. Aphids are sometimes an issue too, but they can be kept at bay with regular cleaning or insecticidal soaps.
