'Kagawa' Sunset Hibiscus

Abelmoschus manihot Origin: Kagawa, Japan Improvement status: Landrace Seeds per packet: ~30 Germination tested 09/2025: 95% Life cycle: Annual EFN INTRODUCTION. Now here's an interesting plant! Abelmoschus manihot is a close relative of okra, but it's grown primarily for its nutritious and delicious greens. "Aibika" is the name used in New Guinea for this globally popular mallow, and it has somehow become the main common name for this species in English, according to most sources. But since that name really only feels appropriate for varieties from New Guinea, we're referring to this Japanese strain as "sunset hibiscus" (another common name for the species). Abelmoschus manihot can produce an astounding 150 tons of leaves per acre, making it perhaps the most productive leaf crop on earth (an excellent, highly productive, enormous cabbage might yield 50 tons per acre). This variety came into the USDA's collection in early 1973, donated by a Dr. H. Kuwada from Kagawa University in Kagaw