Ornamental evaluation of 18 Hibiscus mutabilis cultivars based on analytic hierarchy process

In order to precisely clarify the breeding direction of Hibiscus mutabilis cultivars and promote its popularizaiton and application, based on its aesthetic characteristics, an ornamental evaluation system for H. mutabilis was established by using analytic hierarchy process (AHP). This system was applied to evaluate 18 cultivars of H. mutabilis in Chengdu Botanical Garden. After comprehensive scoring and ranking, the results indicated that these 18 cultivars were categorized into three classes: Class I contained four superior cultivars ('Jinqiuhong', 'Chongbanbaibianhong', 'Mudanfen', 'Jinxiuzi'), Class II included twelve cultivars, and Class III encompassed two cultivars. The establishment of this ornamental evaluation system provides a theoretical foundation for the rational development and efficient utilization of H. mutabilis resources.