Wikipedia offers a well written treatise on Hibiscus and its importance in many countries. Here are a few notes taken from their article.

The hibiscus is the national flower of Haitiand is used in their national tourism slogan of Haïti: Experience It. Hibiscus species also represent several other nations. Hibiscus syriacus is the national flower of South Korea, and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the national flower of Malaysia.

The red hibiscus is the flower of the Hindu goddess Kali, and appears frequently in depictions of her in the art of Bengal, India, often with the goddess and the flower merging in form. The hibiscus is used as an offering to goddess Kali and Lord Ganesha in Hindu worship.

In my travels throughout India, even in the small roadside shrine one sees the red hibiscus offered to Kali.

Many hibiscus are easily to propagate. Take a cutting of medium aged wood and be sure to make the cutting at a 45 degree angle just below a node where the cells are most active. Plant in a well drained medium, keep the cuttings in the shade and out of the wind and rooting should be rapid.

The red form, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, was once known as 'Shoe Black' and was used to shine shoes.

Most importantly, the Mother gave a formula for making delicious 'Power Syrup' from hibiscus and it is produced regularly in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. It is both a cooling and delicious beverage.

In addition to The Hibiscus Handbook there are many other books and booklets produced by the American Hibiscus Society. I have the second edition of What Every Hibiscus Grower Should Know, as well as two of their excellent full colour catalogs from 1989 and 1991.

There is another publication that should be mentioned, Growing Hibiscus, by Les Beers and Jim Howie of the Australian Hibiscus Society. I have the 1987 and 1990 editions, the latter with more than 150 colour photos of hibiscus

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