“Ghanta Joba” refers to the beautiful and widely recognized Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, often called the Chinese Hibiscus, China Rose, or Tropical Hibiscus. The Bengali name “Ghanta,” meaning “bell,” perfectly describes the characteristic shape of its vibrant blooms, while “Joba” is the general term for Hibiscus.

This plant is a bushy, evergreen shrub or sometimes a small tree, typically reaching heights of 2.5 to 5 meters. Its stems are upright, green, and branched. The leaves are simple, glossy, bright green, and have serrated edges, arranged alternately along the stem.

The most captivating aspect of Ghanta Joba is undoubtedly its flowers, which are large, showy, and funnel-shaped, giving rise to its “bell” moniker. While the original varieties commonly boast a vivid red hue, extensive cultivation and hybridization have introduced an astonishing palette of colors including white, pink, orange, peach, yellow, blue, and purple, with some cultivars even displaying multiple colors on a single bloom. These magnificent flowers typically have five petals, though double-flowered varieties with multiple layers of petals are also quite popular. A prominent central tubular structure, formed by the fused stamens around the pistil, is a distinctive feature of these flowers. Although individual flowers usually last for just a single day, the plant consistently produces new blooms throughout its flowering season, which spans summer and autumn, and can be year-round in tropical climates. Following flowering, the plant produces a dry, five-lobed capsule containing several seeds.