Althea or Rose of Sharon

Amplissimus Rose of Sharon produces 2-3" wide, double, purplish-red flowers throughout much of summer on this easy to grow vigorous shrub, which is very tolerant of heat and most growing conditions. Althea or Rose of Sharon is a hardy Hibiscus that naturally develops into a multi-stemmed, vase-shaped deciduous shrub that can be trained into a tree form if desired. Provide an average moist to moderately moist, fertile soil and full sun for optimum growth and flowering. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 10338.

The large, double, pure white, carnation-like to peony-like flowers are produced in great abundance all summer long on this easily grown deciduous shrub. The Rose of Sharon, a cold hardy shrubby Hibiscus species, has a naturally vase shaped habit when young but becomes rounded and full with age and it can also be trained into a tree form with careful pruning. These heirloom pass-along plants are quite tolerant of most well-drained, fertile soils in sunny sites and are resistant to periodic, short term drought once well-established. The flowers, even though double, attract bees, hummingbirds and the occassional butterfly. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 9586

3-5" wide primrose yellow flowers with a burgundy eye that quickly fade to orange and near red are produced in summer on this vigorous large shrub to small tree-like Hibiscus with glossy rounded foliage. The Hamabo Hibiscus is an unusual species from China that is salt tolerant and provides beautiful fall colors ranging from yellows to near reds before dropping its deciduous foliage for the winter. In zone 8, plant young plants out early in the growing season so that they will be reliably hardy for their first winter. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a moderately fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 11303

The large, double pink, carnation-like flowers are produced in great abundance all summer long on this easily grown deciduous shrub. The Rose of Sharon, a cold hardy shrubby Hibiscus species, has a naturally vase shaped habit when young but becomes rounded and full with age and it can also be trained into a tree form with careful pruning. These heirloom pass-a-long plants are quite tolerant of most well-drained, fertile soils in sunny sites and are resistant to periodic, short term drought once well-established. Jimmy's Double Pink Althea or Rose of Sharon is a much loved plant that came to us via John's mother's prized Althea bush when Jimmy, their 4 year old son, picked his mother, Bonnie, a flower and she rooted the cutting some 40 years ago and it still graces our gardens to this day. The flowers, even though double, attract bees, hummingbirds and the occassional butterfly. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 810