<h4>Culture</h4>
<p>In the Pacific islands, women wear hibiscus flowers on their right ear as a symbol of their unmarried status.</p>

<p>On 28 July 1960, the national flower of Malaysia was chosen by the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, to be the <i>Hibiscus rosa-sinensis</i>. This flower symbolizes unity and the five petals represent the five principles of the National Principles of the Rukun Negara. The selection of the hibiscus was also based on its continuous blooming of vibrant red flowers, signifying ongoing prosperity. Its distinctive bloom can be seen on banknotes and is used as the emblem for Tourism Malaysia.</p>

<h4>Food and Beverage</h4>
<p>The delicate leaves and flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis are commonly consumed as a vegetable, added to salads, pickled, used as a spice, or utilized as a natural food coloring in various regions. Additionally, the flower of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is often steeped to create flavorful herbal teas.</p>

<h4>Landscape</h4>
<p><i>Hibiscus rosa-sinensis</i> is planted as an ornamental plant in public and private gardens.</p>

<h4>Religion</h4>
<p>The flowers hold significant importance in Hindu ceremonies, revered as sacred to the Elephant God, Ganesh.</p>

<h4>Traditional practices</h4>
<p>In the traditional practice, the flowers and young leaves of <i>Hibiscus rosa-sinensis</i> are sqeezed in the water untill produce mucus, strained, and then gently applied to the forehead to alleviate fever.</p>

<h4>Other usages</h4>
<p>The Arab, Chinese, Indians, and Portuguese utilized the juice extracted from hibiscus petals and flowers as a dye to darken eyebrows and hair. In Malaysia and Indonesia, the petals were specifically used to create a black dye for shoe polishing, earning hibiscus the nickname "shoe flower".</p>

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Malvaceae)