Bushof 1-3 m high with herbaceous part covered with brownish starred hairs; Branches with internodes often shorter than the leaves. Stems and branches without thorns.  The leaves are alternate, ovate to lanceolate, often with a toothed or lobed margin.  The flowers are large, conspicuous, trumpet-shaped, with five or more petals,  from white to pink, red, orange, peach, yellow or purple, and from 4-18 cm broad.

The roots of this plant are chewed and the liquid swallowed to cure coughs and as an aphrodisiac. A root decoction is drunk as an antidote for any poisoning.  A decoction of leaves is drunk against intestinal parasites. Nsanzimana Azzarias who is a TMP in Eastern Province, Gatsibo district uses macerations of Hibiscus fiscus to treat pneumonia. Hibiscus fiscus is also used by Mitali Emmanuel to treat skin diseases (leaves and flowers), upper respiratoty diseases (leaves and flowers), gonnhorea (leaves), bad breath (leaves) and epilepsy (leaves). This treatment can be efficient by combining with other medical plants   

People of Rwanda used the stick of the plant , once dried to prepare cow milk.