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Many species are grown for their showy or used as landscape . Hibiscus is also a primary ingredient in many .

One species of Hibiscus, known as (Hibiscus cannabinus), is extensively used in making. Another, (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is used as a and to make and (especially in the Caribbean).

In , the drink is known as and is quite popular for its color, tanginess and mild flavor; once sugar is added, it tastes somewhat like juice. Dieters or persons with kidney problems often take it without adding sugar for its beneficial properties and as a natural . It is made by boiling the dehydrated flowers in water; once it is boiled, it is allowed to cool and drunk with ice. The flowers are also used to add flavor to the end of year punch, along with many other plants as cinnamon, guava and sugar cane.

In Egypt and Sudan, roselle petals are used to make a tea named after the plant .

Certain species of hibiscus are also beginning to be used more widely as a natural source of food colouring (), and replacement of .

Hibiscus species are used as food plants by the of some species including , , the , and the .

The Hibiscus is used as an offering to Goddess and Lord in worship.

is considered to have a number of medical uses in .

The bark of the hibiscus contains strong . They can be obtained by letting the stripped bark sit in the sea in order to let the organic material rot away. In these fibers (fau, prau) are used for making grass skirts. They have also been known to be used to make wigs.

Hibiscus, especially white hibiscus, is considered to have medicinal properties in the Indian traditional system of medicine, . Roots make various concoctions believed to cure various ailments.

A 2008 USDA study shows consuming hibiscus tea lowers blood pressure in a group of pre-hypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults. Three cups of tea daily resulted in an average drop of 7.2 point in their systolic blood pressure, compared to a 1.3 point drop in the volunteers who drank the placebo beverage. Study participants with higher blood pressure readings (129 or above), had a greater response to hibiscus tea, their systolic blood pressure went down by 13.2 points. This data supports the idea that drinking hibiscus tea in an amount readily incorporated into the diet may play a role in controlling blood pressure, although more research is required.

The natives of southern India use the Red hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) for hair care purposes. The red flower and leaves, extracts of which can be applied on hair to tackle hair-fall, dandruff on the scalp and also for colouring the hair. It is used to make hair-protective oils. A simple application involves soaking the leaves and flowers in water and using a wet grinder to make a thick paste, and used as a natural shampoo. its petals are used to cure fever while its roots are used to cure cough.

In the Philippines, the gumamela (local name for hibiscus) is used by children as part of a bubble-making pastime. The flowers and leaves are crushed until the sticky juices come out. Hollow stalks are then dipped into this and used as straws for blowing bubbles.

Dried hibiscus is edible, and is often a delicacy in Mexico.

The red hibiscus flower is traditionally worn by women. A single flower is tucked behind the ear. Which ear is used indicates the wearer's availability for marriage.