Shrub Althea Hibiscus syriacus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Althaea frutex
- Hibiscus acerifolius
- Ketmia syriaca
- Phonetic Spelling
- hi-BIS-kus seer-ee-AY-kus
- Description
-
Rose of Sharon is a rapidly growing, large, deciduous shrub or tree in the Malvaceae (mallow) family and native to south China and Taiwan. It grows to 8 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide, so consider its space requirements when determining its planting location.
Plant in locations with full sun to partial shade. It is tolerant of neglect and is pH adaptable. It grows best in moist, well-drained soils but is tolerant of all except extremely wet or dry soils. It prefers hot weather. Spring pruning will encourage flowers on new growth and will increase flower size. The plant is moderately tolerant of salt, deer, heat, and wet soil.
Plant in a children’s, pollinator, or butterfly garden. Plant in multiples 6 to 12 feet apart to create a hedge. Flowers are an attractant for butterflies, specialized bees, hummingbirds, and pollinators and are a wildlife food source.
Quick ID Hints:
- large, tropical looking, 5-petaled flowers
- erect, spreading habit with upright branches
- 3-lobed leaves are 2-4 inches long
- simple, alternate, coarsely toothed leaves
- 5-valved, dehiscent capsule persists thru winter
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Rose of Sharon has been reported to be invasive in some states, including Virginia and Kentucky.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Floricyle Relaxed Foundation Planting Paths & Walkways
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aphrodite'
rose flowers
'Blue Bird'
- 'Blushing Bride'
Showy pink double flowers through the summer, fading to white - 'Collie Mullens'
Semi-double pink blooms with burgundy centers throughout the summer
'Diana'
- 'Freedom'
Large pink double blooms all summer; dark green leaves - 'Helene'
white/purple flowers - 'Lavender Chiffon'
Large lavender flowers; graceful stems; rounded habit; grows 8-12 feet tall and prefers full sun - 'Minerva'
A heavily bloomer with lavender flowers overcast with some pink, red eye at base, foliage is higher quality than the species. - 'Notwoodthree'
large single blue blooms accented with a lacy center - 'Peppermint Smoothie'
Double red-pink blooms with ruffled petals; glossy green leaves - 'Pink Giant'
Large showy pink blooms with burgundy spot toward the center on each petal; blooms mid-summer to early fall - 'Purpureus Variegatus'
Large half-closed maroon blooms appear in late summer til fall; green and yellow variegated foliage - 'Red Heart'
White blooms with deep red centers - 'Smoothie Fusion'
Double purple, dark pink, and light pink blooms mid to late summer; green serrate leaves; - 'Strawberry Smoothie'
Large double pink blooms from mid-summer til frost; glossy green leaves - 'Tri-color'
Double flowers are pink, red or purple and are mixed over the plant. Narrow, upright habit. - 'White Chiffon'
White blooms; graceful stems and rounded habit.
Blue vase-shaped flowers
A triploid with large, pure white flowers which remain open at night, foliage is dark green and waxy. - 'Aphrodite'
- 'Aphrodite', 'Blue Bird', 'Blushing Bride', 'Collie Mullens', 'Diana', 'Freedom', 'Helene', 'Lavender Chiffon', 'Minerva', 'Notwoodthree', 'Peppermint Smoothie', 'Pink Giant', 'Purpureus Variegatus', 'Red Heart', 'Smoothie Fusion', 'Strawberry Smoothie', 'Tri-color', 'White Chiffon'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aphrodite'
rose flowers
'Blue Bird'
- 'Blushing Bride'
Showy pink double flowers through the summer, fading to white - 'Collie Mullens'
Semi-double pink blooms with burgundy centers throughout the summer
'Diana'
- 'Freedom'
Large pink double blooms all summer; dark green leaves - 'Helene'
white/purple flowers - 'Lavender Chiffon'
Large lavender flowers; graceful stems; rounded habit; grows 8-12 feet tall and prefers full sun - 'Minerva'
A heavily bloomer with lavender flowers overcast with some pink, red eye at base, foliage is higher quality than the species. - 'Notwoodthree'
large single blue blooms accented with a lacy center - 'Peppermint Smoothie'
Double red-pink blooms with ruffled petals; glossy green leaves - 'Pink Giant'
Large showy pink blooms with burgundy spot toward the center on each petal; blooms mid-summer to early fall - 'Purpureus Variegatus'
Large half-closed maroon blooms appear in late summer til fall; green and yellow variegated foliage - 'Red Heart'
White blooms with deep red centers - 'Smoothie Fusion'
Double purple, dark pink, and light pink blooms mid to late summer; green serrate leaves; - 'Strawberry Smoothie'
Large double pink blooms from mid-summer til frost; glossy green leaves - 'Tri-color'
Double flowers are pink, red or purple and are mixed over the plant. Narrow, upright habit. - 'White Chiffon'
White blooms; graceful stems and rounded habit.
Blue vase-shaped flowers
A triploid with large, pure white flowers which remain open at night, foliage is dark green and waxy. - 'Aphrodite'
- 'Aphrodite', 'Blue Bird', 'Blushing Bride', 'Collie Mullens', 'Diana', 'Freedom', 'Helene', 'Lavender Chiffon', 'Minerva', 'Notwoodthree', 'Peppermint Smoothie', 'Pink Giant', 'Purpureus Variegatus', 'Red Heart', 'Smoothie Fusion', 'Strawberry Smoothie', 'Tri-color', 'White Chiffon'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hibiscus
- Species:
- syriacus
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- S. China, Taiwan
- Wildlife Value:
- Attractive to hummingbirds. Members of the genus Hibiscus support the following specialized bee: Ptilothrix bombiformis.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Mildly resistant to damage by deer, moderate salt tolerance.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- A 5-valved dehiscent capsule, 3/4" long and wide, brown; persists through winter.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 2 to 4 in. flowers with 5 crepe-like petals; red, white, violet, purple, two-toned; single or double; last for one day. Campanulate; single or double, solitary.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple medium to dark green leaves; 2 to 4 in. long; coarsely toothed; modest yellow fall color. Alternate, simple, 3-lobed, 2-4" long, coarsely toothed, glabrous, can be shiny.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heat
- Salt
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
