Rose of Sharon
A deciduous shrub with large summer flowers and lobed leaves, available in many horticultural cultivars.
- Scientific name
- Hibiscus syriacus
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Other names
- Shrub althea
- Reviewed
A reference photograph of rose of Sharon. Flower color and petal number can vary among horticultural cultivars.
Photo credit: Eric Kounce TexasRaiser
License: CC BY-SA 3.0
The photograph was resized and converted to JPEG.
Names and classification
Rose of Sharon is a deciduous shrub in the mallow family. This entry covers Hibiscus syriacus, distinguishing the species from other Hibiscus plants and cultivar names.
Observable features
The alternate leaves have toothed margins and are often shallowly lobed. The basic flower has five petals, but double-flowered cultivars also occur, so flower color and form are not uniform.
Distribution and habitat
Native to East Asia, it is planted in gardens and hedges in many regions. Flowering depends on climate and cultivar; in temperate areas, flowers are generally seen from summer into autumn.
Ecology and life cycle
Flowers attract pollinating animals, including bees, and dry capsules form after fertilization. Seed production varies by cultivar, so not every garden specimen spreads in the same way.
Cultivation and care
Grow it in a sunny site with well-drained soil. Allow room to grow, and consider flowering on new shoots together with local climate when deciding whether and when to prune.
Observation and use precautions
Before planting in another region, check local rules for managing introduced plants. Do not use flower color alone to distinguish other Hibiscus species or judge suitability for food or medicinal use.