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Malvaceae
Rose of Sharon
Hibiscus syriacus
Eternity, perseverance, dedication.
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Genus
- Hibiscus
- Native to
- China, India
- Bloom season
- Summer, Early Fall
- Type
- deciduous shrub
- Height
- 2–4 m
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil
- Well-drained, average to rich
- Water
- Moderate
- Hardiness
- 5–9
- Lifespan
- Perennial; 20–50 years
Did you know
- Despite its biblical name and the Latin epithet 'syriacus,' Rose of Sharon is not from Syria or the Holy Land — it's native to East Asia.
- Mugunghwa (the Korean name) is the national flower of South Korea — it appears on the country's coat of arms and is celebrated in the national anthem.
- Each individual flower lasts only one day, but a healthy shrub produces a continuous succession of new blooms from July to October.
- Rose of Sharon was a cottage garden favorite in colonial America and was planted at George Washington's Mount Vernon.
- The flower buds and fresh young leaves are edible and used in salads and as a tea in Korean and Japanese cuisine.