Hibiscus syriacus Diana - Rose of Sharon

The Hibiscus syriacus 'Diana' is a highly prolific variety of althaea, which is commonly planted in gardens due to its good vigour. This bush has an upright habit, which can be a bit stiff in the early years. It offers simple yet brightly coloured flowers with slightly undulated white petals. Although short-lived, new flowers are constantly formed from the second half of summer until early autumn. This hardy bush is easy to grow in ordinary soil and prefers sunny locations. It is perfect for a flowering hedge, a flower bed, or a large container near the house.

The Hibiscus syriacus, also known as Rose of Sharon or Tree Mallow, is a tough deciduous shrub that can thrive in our climate. However, in warmer temperatures, it can remain evergreen. This shrub belongs to the Malvaceae family, including hollyhocks and marshmallows. It is originally from the temperate regions of Asia and has produced many cultivars. One of the most notable is the 'Diana' variety, distinguished by its robust and upright growth and abundant blooming period from August to October.

This is a relatively slow-growing bush, reaching a height of about 2.20 m (7 ft 2 in) and a spread of 1.50 m, supported by an upright branching. It offers simple corollas, 5 to 12 cm (2 to 4.7 in) wide, in pure white colours, surrounding a large central column of fused white stamens. After the flowers, numerous fruits appear, which can be regularly removed to promote new flowering. Its foliage forms a beautiful dark green backdrop, slightly glossy. The leaves are alternate, lobed, ovate to lanceolate, with serrated and billowy edges measuring about 10 cm (3.9 in) long. The foliage appears late in spring and falls in November.

The Rose of Sharon has the advantage of flowering abundantly at a time when few shrubs are in bloom in the garden, in almost all types of soil and in all climates. 'Diana' Althaea likes bright, warm locations, and can tolerate light shade in warmer temperatures. This Hibiscus requires little maintenance and grows slowly but steadily. Plant it in a sheltered spot from strong winds, in a soil that remains slightly moist until the end of summer. This excellent variety can be used as a 2 m (6 ft 7 in) hedge, in combination with other hibiscus of different colours, buddleias, abelias, as a standalone plant or at the back of a perennial flower bed composed of asters, phlox, daylilies, gauras, or shrubby lavateras.

In regions with cool and rainy summers, it is best to choose single-flowered hibiscus varieties as they bloom better in cooler temperatures than double-flowered ones.