Hibiscus syriacus Ruby Chiffon® - Rose of Sharon

Hibiscus syriacus Ruby Chiffon is a variety of rose of Sharon distinguished by its semi-double anemone-type, crumpled corollas, which are a warm ruby red. They are produced continuously from July to October. This is a robust, easy-going shrub for sunny spots, suitable for informal hedges, large summer borders, and container cultivation on a terrace. Its late flowering period brings life to the garden when many other plants have finished blooming.

Belonging to the Malvaceae family, the wild Hibiscus syriacus originates from East Asia (notably Korea and China) and has been naturalised in Europe for centuries.
Ruby Chiffon® ('Rwoods9') is a cultivar selected by the British breeder Roderick (R.) Woods, creator of the Chiffon series; this series is characterised by semi-double flowers with a "pom-pom" centre, a long summer flowering period, and good hardiness.
This shrub is upright, slightly vase-shaped, with light grey branches bearing lenticels. It takes a few years to establish itself fully and breaks bud late in spring. In the ground, it will ultimately reach 2.50 to 3 m in height and 1.50 m to 2 m in spread; at 10 years, one can expect 2 m to 2.50 m tall and 1.50 m wide, depending on the soil and climate. The plant does not produce suckers but may set some seed; semi-double varieties bear less than single ones.
The deciduous leaves appear late (end of May, depending on the region); they are alternate, trilobed, and measure 5 to 8 cm long. They are medium to dark green, turning slightly yellow in autumn before falling. The flowers are 8 to 10 cm in diameter with five outer petals surrounding a centre of petaloids derived from stamens, forming a small pom-pom; they are ruby red to purplish red, darker when still in bud. Flowering occurs on the current season's wood, continuously from July to October. Each individual flower lasts one to two days, but they are produced in constant succession. The fruits, when formed, are not very decorative, brown 5-valved capsules, maturing in late autumn; the Chiffon series produces few. The root system develops a fairly deep taproot, making the moving of mature specimens tricky.

Rose of Sharon Ruby Chiffon thrives in very sunny positions. It requires little maintenance and flowers for 4 to 5 months. Plant it in a spot sheltered from strong winds, in soil that remains somewhat moist until late summer. This colourful selection can be used in a medium-height hedge, combined with other hibiscus from the same series: Blue Chiffon, Pink Chiffon, or Lavender Chiffon. Mix them with tall abelias and butterfly bushes. Its moderate growth makes it suitable for cultivation in a large container with a nutrient-rich substrate, allowing you to fully enjoy its flowering on a terrace or balcony.

In Korea, H. syriacus (mugunghwa) is the national flower and its flowers are sometimes eaten or infused; in Europe, the bush has been cultivated since the 16th century.