Hibiscus tiliaceus is a evergreen shrub or small tree, reaching 10(-20) m tall, with low spreading branches and smooth gray bark.
Leaves are spirally arranged with a pointed tip and slightly toothed, dark green above and whitish and short-hairy below. The long-stemmed leaves are rounded, heart-shaped, with several major veins. The few-flowered inflorescences are found at the branch tips or leaf angles. The flowers are large and conspicuous, bright yellow in the early morning,turning dark reddish purple before dropping off in the evening. The flowers open at about 9 am and drop off at about 4 pm. The filaments of the stamens are joined together into a light yellow tube and the stigmas are a deep crimson purple. The flowers appear in early summer. The capsules are somewhat spherical, topped by the persistent sepals. The seed are black or sometimes brown in color including the seed coat.
(Lim, K. et al.(editors) 2001. A Guide to Mangroves of Singapore.)
(Kepler,A.K. 1984. Hawaiian Heritage Plants.)