Aibika Hibiscus Spinach - Abelmoschus manihot NEW

Description: Abelmoschus manihot commonly known as Aibika. This plant is a short-lived perennial shrub in the subtropics and the tropics but an annual in cooler climates. It grows 2 - 3 m high with large, nearly round, soft green leaves. There is a wide range of other leaf shapes grown in PNG; up to 70 types have been classified. It is a hardy plant that thrives when it is warm and wet. It can be prone to looper caterpillars; snails find it inviting too. It prefers full sun but will grow in partial shade. Aibika needs ample water and rich, fertile soil that is kept mulched. It is a very nutritious vegetable; the leaves are high in vitamins A and C, and iron, and have 2% protein by dry weight. Annual types flower and self-sow readily and have the potential to become quite weedy; their seedpods are also very prickly so are best avoided.