Overview Common Name: rose of SharonType: Deciduous shrubFamily: MalvaceaeZone: 5-8Height: 5-12 feetSpread: 4-6 feetBloom Time: June to SeptemberBloom Description: White, Violet, or PinkSun: Full sun to part shadeWater: MediumMaintenance: LowSuggested Use: HedgeFlower: ShowyAttracts: ButterfliesTolerate: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil, Black Walnut Culture Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best flowering occurs in full sun. Prefers moist, organically rich soils, but tolerates poor soils and some drought. Very tolerant of summer heat and humidity. Generally tolerant of urban conditions. Prune to shape in spring. Pruning back to 2-3 buds in late winter may produce larger blooms. Easily propagated by stem cuttings. May be grown from seed, but seedlings sometimes don't have the exact same flower color as the parent. Species plants can self-seed aggressively in optimum growing conditions. Noteworthy Characteristics Hibiscus syriacus, commonly called rose of Sharon or shrub althea, is a vigorous, upright, vase-shaped, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that grows up to 12’ tall. It may be trained as a small tree or espalier. Showy, hollyhock-like, 5-petaled flowers (to 3” diameter) appear over a long, early-summer to fall bloom period. Each flower has a prominent and showy center staminal column. Palmately-veined, coarsely-toothed, three-lobed, medium green leaves (to 4” long) are attractive during the growing season but produce no fall color. Potential Problems Some susceptibility to leaf spots, blights, rusts and canker. Japanese beetles, whiteflies, and aphids are occasional insect visitors. Japanese beetles can severely damage foliage if left unchecked. Uses Excellent flowering shrub that may be massed, planted in groups or used as a specimen. Good for foundations and shrub borders. Also can be effective as a hedge or screen.May be trained into a small tree form. What You'll Get 100+ hardy and organic of mixed (white, violet, or pink) Rose of Sharon, also called Shrub Althea (Hibiscus syriacus), seeds from my organic garden (I do not use pesticides, herbicides, or any other chemicals) located in Illinois, which were grown and collected with love and care.