Life Span
Perennial
  
Annual and Perennial
  
Type
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
  
Broadleaf Evergreen
  
Origin
Southern Africa, South Africa
  
Not Available
  
Types
not available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
marshes, Sandy flats, Slopes
  
gardens, Grassland, Homesteads, Subtropical climates, tropical environments
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-10
  
9-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
10-7
  
Not Available
  
Sunset Zone
21,22
  
21,22
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Orange, Gold
  
Salmon
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green, Yellow green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Several shades of Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Succulent
  
Ovate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Not Available
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Winter, Late Winter
  
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought, Variety of soil types
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Bulbs, Seedlings
  
Stem Cutting, Tip cutting, Vegetative Reproduction
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Reduce watering in winter, Water three times weekly in summer
  
It cannot sustain wet-feet, Keep the Soil well drained, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water frequently while growing, Water more in summer, Water when soil is dry
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Prune to control growth, prune to control shape, Prune to stimulate growth
  
A hard prune may be necessary if the plant becomes woody, Cut leaves after fall, Cut or pinch the stems, Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Prune for shortening long shoots, Prune in early summer, Remove deadheads
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Apply 10-10-10 amount, Balanced liquid fertilizer, Do not fertilize new plants until at least a month, Use a low phosphate fertilizer to improve the quality of the blooms
  
Pests and Diseases
Not Available
  
Aphids, Mealybugs, Red spider mite, Scale, Thripes, Whiteflies
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought, Variety of soil types
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Butterflies, Insects, pollinators
  
Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
Skin irritation, Skin rash, Toxic
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cut Flowers, Showy Purposes, Used as an interior landscaping species, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
  
Beautification, Borders, Landscape Designing
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Hair Conditioner, Not Available, Prevents greying of hair, Prevents Premature Baldness, Promotes Healthy Hair, Promotes healthy skin, Speed hair growth
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Hair Loss, High blood pressure, Vitamin C
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
  
Flowers, Leaf Stalks, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for Landscaping
  
Culinary use, Employed in herbal medicine, Jam, Jelly, Making Shampoo, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Showy Purposes, Traditional medicine, Use in Chinese herbology, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for bedding in gardens, Used for fragrance, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in making beverages, Used in paper industry, Used in salads, Used to make hair tonic
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
  
Container, Foundation, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
  
Hibiscus hirtus—Lesser Mallow
  
Common Name
Chincherinchee, Wonder-flower, Star-of-Bethlehem
  
Lesser Mallow
  
In Hindi
Chincherinchee
  
Hibiscus Lesser Mallow
  
In German
Kap-Milchstern
  
Hibiscus Lesser Malve
  
In French
Chincherinchee
  
Hibiscus Lesser Mallow
  
In Spanish
Chincherinchee
  
Hibiscus menor Mallow
  
In Greek
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
  
Hibiscus Λιγότερο Μολόχα
  
In Portuguese
Chinkerinchee
  
Hibiscus Lesser Mallow
  
In Polish
Chincherinchee,
  
Hibiscus Lesser Mallow
  
In Latin
Chincherinchee
  
Hibiscus minorem Abutilon
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Asparagales
  
Malvales
  
Family
Asparagaceae
  
Malvaceae
  
Genus
Ornithogalum
  
Hibiscus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Ornithogaleae
  
Hibisceae
  
Subfamily
Scilloideae
  
Malvoideae