Mandrinette
Hibiscus fragilis, family Malvaceae
A rare pink hibiscus found only on Mauritius and Rodrigues
Mandrinette (Hibiscus fragilis) is a rare evergreen shrub with bright pink to carmine red flowers, native to steep mountain slopes on Mauritius and Rodrigues. Fewer than 50 wild plants remain, threatened by invasive hibiscus species, but conservation efforts are underway to save it.
- Only 46 mature mandrinette plants exist in the wild
- Native to Mauritius and Rodrigues mountain slopes
- Flowers are bright pink to carmine red, 7–10 cm wide
- Featured in Andy Warhol's 1964 'Flowers' art series
- Conservationists are reintroducing nursery-grown plants
What does Mandrinette look like?
Mandrinette is an evergreen shrub with flowers measuring 7 to 10 cm across. Each bloom has five petals, which range from bright pink to carmine red. The plant grows on steep slopes and looks quite similar to the Chinese hibiscus, with a bushy form and glossy leaves. Its striking flowers stand out against the green foliage.
Where does Mandrinette come from?
Mandrinette grows wild only on Mauritius and Rodrigues, specifically on steep mountain slopes such as Corps de Garde and Le Morne Brabant. It is not found anywhere else in the world. The species has become extremely rare, with its decline linked to the introduction of Chinese hibiscus as a garden plant, which led to competition and hybridisation.
When and how Mandrinette blooms
Mandrinette grows as a shrub in its native mountain habitats. It is evergreen and flowers with large, colourful blooms. In the wild, reproduction is now limited due to invasive hibiscus species. Conservationists are growing about 200 plants in nurseries and working to reintroduce them into the wild, especially after removing invasive plants.
How Mandrinette is used
Mandrinette is not widely used for decoration or other purposes, mainly because of its rarity. Its main significance today is its conservation status and its appearance in art. Efforts focus on protecting the remaining wild plants and growing new ones in nurseries for future reintroduction.
Kinds of Mandrinette
There are no notable varieties or cultivars of Hibiscus fragilis mentioned in the sources. The plant is closely related in appearance to the Chinese hibiscus, but hybridisation with this invasive species has threatened its survival.
What Mandrinette means
Mandrinette gained attention in the art world when Andy Warhol used a photograph of its flower for his first 'Flowers' series in 1964. The original photo was taken by Patricia Caulfield. The plant is now a symbol of conservation efforts on Mauritius, with only a few wild individuals left and ongoing work to save the species.
Where Mandrinette is used and seen
GarlandA string or braid of flowers, leaves, or other materials for decoration or ceremony
San Diego Botanic GardenA 37-acre garden in Encinitas with global plant collections and rare bamboos
Mehtab BaghA Mughal riverside garden facing the Taj Mahal in Agra
Batumi Botanical GardenA vast Black Sea garden with plants from around the world and sweeping sea views
Allan GardensA historic Toronto park with a large public conservatory and six greenhousesQuestions people ask about Mandrinette
Where does the mandrinette come from?
Mandrinette is native only to Mauritius and Rodrigues, growing on steep mountain slopes like Corps de Garde and Le Morne Brabant.
What does the mandrinette look like?
It is an evergreen shrub with flowers 7 to 10 cm across, each with five bright pink to carmine red petals.
Why is the mandrinette endangered?
It is endangered mainly due to competition and hybridisation with the introduced Chinese hibiscus, which has reduced its ability to reproduce in the wild.
How is the mandrinette being protected?
Conservationists are growing about 200 plants in nurseries and reintroducing them into the wild after removing invasive hibiscus plants.
Has the mandrinette appeared in art or culture?
Yes, Andy Warhol used a photograph of the mandrinette flower for his first 'Flowers' series in 1964.
Good reading and sources
- IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesIUCN Red List, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
- Hibiscus fragilis on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Hibiscus fragilis", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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