Rose of Sharon (aka Althea)
Hibiscus syriacus
Native to China and India, Rose of Sharon was launched to the gardens of Europe within the 16th century. The particular epithet “syriacus”, refers to it having been collected from gardens in Syria. It’s propagated by seed and cuttings, and lots of new cultivars have proven up lately. Many of those cultivars produce little to no seed.
Rose of Sharon is a deciduous, multi-trunk woody shrub to small tree that’s chilly hardy to Zone 5b (-15°F). It tolerates warmth, poor soils and is drought tolerant as soon as established. Though Rose of Sharon will thrive in a variety of soils, it is not going to tolerate poorly drained soils. They are going to develop in a variety of soil pH, from acid to alkaline (5.0-8.0).
This stunning small tree blooms greatest in full solar however will tolerate mild shade. Finest blooming happens if it receives 6 hours of solar a day.
What extra may we ask for? How about comparatively pest free? Aphids are sometimes discovered on the brand new progress or flower buds however can normally be managed by a twig of water. It’s inclined to Cotton Root Rot, however actually, what isn’t?
Flower colours are white, pink, darkish pink, magenta, and blue, with some flowers having darkish purple facilities. Single, semi-double and double flowers can be found. Flowers are normally produced late spring by way of fall.
New introductions have totally different mature heights, so all the time select the range with the peak that’s desired. The “quaint” varieties develop to eight’-12’ x 6’-10’, whereas new hybrids might solely attain 6’-8’ x 4’-6’. A few of these hybrids are additionally sterile or semi-sterile, so seed manufacturing is usually absent.
Many people keep in mind this plant from our childhoods, when our grandmothers would have one planted of their yard. I might say the one disadvantage to this tree is the truth that it’s a favourite “munchie” for the deer!
Listed below are some varieties which are discovered in the marketplace as we speak:
Blue Angel 6’-8’ x 4’-6’
single blue flower with
purple eye
Aphrodite 8’-12’ x 6’-10’
ruffled clear pink with purple eye
Minerva 8’-12’ x 6’-10’
lavender pink with darkish purple eye
Blueberry Smoothie 8’ x 4’
upright progress, double bluish-purple
Peppermint Smoothie 8’ x 4’
upright progress, double purple
and pink blooms
Raspberry Smoothie 8’ x 4’
upright progress, double
raspberry pink blooms
‘Ardens’ 8’-12’ x 6’-10’
double lilac-purple blooms
‘Girl Stanley’ 8’-12’ x 6’-8’
very mild pink double pink
with purple eye
‘Amplissimus’ 8’-10’ x 6’-8’
double reddish-purple
‘Jeanne D’Arc’ 8’-10’; x 5’-6’
double pure white
with purple eye
‘White Pillar’ 10’-15’ x 2’-3’
upright slender progress behavior with semi-double white flowers
