Global Planting Status of Korean Hibiscus (<i>Hibiscus syriacus</i> L.) as a Garden Plant

Abstract

To identify the current planting status of Mugunghwa (Korean Hibiscus, Hibiscus syriacus L.) around the world as a garden plant and the planting marginal area, we have collected the big data from the field research, expert exploration, georeferencing, surveys conducted by major botanical gardens in each country, and analyzed various literature with local photos. The summarized results are as follows: 1. Mugunghwa which currently grows at the highest altitude in South Korea, is located at 710 meters above sea level in Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province. The region with the highest latitude for cultivation of Mugunghwa has been identified as Pyongyang in North Korea. 2. The limit for planting Mugunghwa in the Asian continent, which is presumed to be the origin of Mugunghwa, lies to the east side of the line linking Qindao (靑島) in Shandongsheng (山東省), Jinan (濟南), Beijing (北京) in Hebeisheng (河北省), Xian (西安) in Shanshusheng (山西省), Hanzhong (漢中), Shengtu (成都) in Sichuansheng (泗川省), Lijiang (麗江) in Yunnamsheng (雲南省), Baoshan (保山), and Jinghong (景洪). In addition, the planting limit is within the line connecting Taishan (臺山) in Quangdongsheng (廣東省), Hongkong (香港), and Ningbo (宁波) in Zhejiiangsheng (浙江省). The planting limit of the coast lies on the line between Kaoshung (高雄) at the southern end of Taiwan (臺灣), Taipei (臺北) at the north of Taiwan, and Shendai (Japan) and Hokkaido. 3. Mugunghwa that grows on the northernmost region of the European continent is planted in Stockholm, Sweden, with an exact location of 58.4 degrees north latitude and 18.0 degrees east longitude. In Western Europe, Lisboa in Portugal and Valencia in Spain are the limits. In Southwestern Europe, Mugunghwa has been found in Agion Oros (40.5 N, 24.3 E) in Greece. 4. In the Middle East, Mugunghwa is cultivated in Palmyra (35.0 N, 38.5 E) in Syria and Jerusalem (31.4 N, 35.1 E) in Israel. It also grows from Slovenia to Albania on the Mediterranean coast and Azerbaijan, Geogia and Armenia in the Caucasus region in Southwest Asia. 5. In North America, the limit for planting Mugunghwa is the southern part of the line between Vancouver in Canada, Denver in Colorado, Kansas City in Kansas, Chicago in Illinois, Detroit in Michigan, Swego and Burlington in New York, and Boston in Massachusetts. It has also been confirmed that Mugunghwa has grown well in Toronto, Canada. In addition, Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, and Puerto Rico in Central and South America, and Olavarria (36.9 S, 60.3 W) in Argentina in South America are the southernmost cultivation limits. 6. We have identified that Mugunghwa is planted in Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand and from Melbourne to Gold Coast in Australia. In Africa, Mugunhwa is planted in Johannesburg (26.6 S, 27.4 E) in South Africa, and further research should be conducted in the region.