Hibiscus acetosella, commonly known as the cranberry hibiscus, is a shrubby plant that is grown mainly for its flashy foliage, which can come in stunning shades of copper and burgundy that rival red maple trees. The plant is short-lived and might only survive for a handful of years, but because it grows so rapidly, it is still a good value for the garden. The leaves can be ovate or lobed, but the newer varieties have been bred to have deeply lobed, finely cut leaves like Japanese maples. You’ll find them in shades of green with red veining right through to a full deep burgundy leaf. The cranberry hibiscus has typical hibiscus funnel-shaped flowers in yellow and red. Unlike most other hibiscus plants, the flowers are incidental on Hibiscus acetosella and some of the newer cultivars don’t flower at all.
Here are the step-by-step instructions to grow and care for Hibiscus acetosella: