Gumamela (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) grows in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11.

Native to Southeast Asia,

other names for it include shoeflower__, tropical hibiscus and the rose of China. The flower is also known
as rose mallow because it's part of the mallow family, Malvaceae, which means its cousins include okra,
cotton and cocoa.
The flowers of the gumamela can be white, pink, red, yellow, peach and purple. Gardeners cultivate more
than 300 species of the plant worldwide. They are primarily grown as an ornamental plant, and the flowers
and leaves have medicinal properties. Hibiscus have a long life, with some lasting more than 50 years.
The gumamela is a fast-growing evergreen shrub with dark green and glossy leaves with dicot flowers. The
leaves are oval in shape, and they measure between 3 inches to 4.2 inches long. The edges of the leaves often
are slightly serrated. They arrange themselves in a spiral pattern and alternate around a long stalk.