You may have had favorite plants up north that simply cannot grow here or at best linger and are less than robust. For example, there may be only one Hosta cultivar that grows well here but think of the myriad types available in cooler climates. Glorious clematis did great in the north country, but not here. There are certainly suitable substitutes that fill the bill – think caladiums instead of Hosta, and passionflower instead of clematis. Another one that comes to mind is the Japanese maple – fine textured dissected leaves in shades of purple red. There is a substitute for this plant as well – Hibiscus acetosella – also known as African rose mallow, false roselle, maroon mallow, cranberry hibiscus, or red leaved hibiscus. You get a similar look, but in a subtropical package!
Probably best known in our area as cranberry hibiscus, this perennial shrub-like plant grows up to five-feet tall and thirty inches wide with deep red-purple foliage that does mimic that of Japanese maples to a tee. The deeply cut, palmate foliage is very maple-like in shape and color of the familiar dwarf ornamental maples of the north. In addition to the maroon foliage, cranberry hibiscus also produces small pinkish purple flowers that are somewhat hidden amongst the leaves. These two-inch flowers appear as the days become shorter in the fall and winter.
Cranberry hibiscus make a nice short hedge as well as mixed with other contrasting foliage and flowers – a great container plant, too. Plant this subshrub in full sun and prune as needed to develop denser growth.
Easily propagated from cuttings, cranberry hibiscus can also be started by seed. Like many landscape plants, there are many nice cultivars on the market to choose from including the commonly available ‘Red Shield’, ‘Haight Ashbury’ (US PPAF), a variegated form, ‘Jungle Red’ which does look like a red Japanese maple, and ‘Maple Sugar’ (US PP16,286) with dark, maple-like leaves. ‘Panama Bronze’ (PPAF) and ‘Panama Red’ (PPAF) round the selection out with bronze and red foliage, respectively.
Cranberry hibiscus has another attribute as hinted by its other name, false roselle. The young tender leaves can provide a pleasant acidic tang to food when cooked and eaten. Otherwise, consider this plant carefree and certified as “Not a Problem Species” by the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas.
While there are many favorite plants that we miss from our previous gardening lives up north, embrace all of the new local plants that will grace your landscape. And, if possible, you may discover horticultural facsimiles or close look-alikes that will fulfill your dream landscape. Cranberry hibiscus is a good start and a new plant look-alike to enjoy! For more information on all types of landscape ornamentals and edible ornamentals, or to ask a question, you can also call the Master Gardener Volunteer Helpdesk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer Ralph E. Mitchell is the Director/Horticulture Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County. He can be reached at 941-764-4344 or ralph.mitchell@charlottecountyfl.gov. Connect with us on social media. Like us on Facebook @CharlotteCountyExtension and follow us on Instagram @ifascharco.
Resources:
UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas. (2025). The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (2025) Hibiscus acetosella. NC State University and N.C. A&T State University.
Mahr, S. Hibiscus acetosella. The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension.
SETZER, K. (2015) (2025) Cranberry hibiscus . Miami Herald – Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.
Hibiscus acetosella (2025) – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus_acetosella.
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