Summer slows or shuts down spinach and lettuce. Kiko’s Crump hibiscus is a heat-tolerant source of leafy vegetables, and the flowers are edible too. With large, “buttery” tender leaves, this culinary hibiscus is a nutritious addition to the edible garden with leaves high in vitamins A and C, iron, and protein.
Edible hibiscus leaves can be eaten fresh or cooked. It is grown exclusively for its leaves and is a very prolific producer, outyielding most crops planted for the production of leafy greens. The leaves can be as large as a slice of bread and one leaf can be used instead of lettuce.
Plants reach from 6-8 feet tall but can be maintained at a smaller size in a pot. Plants are hardy from zones 8b-11 and can be overwintered in a pot in northern climates.