Hibiscus syriacus Sangria - Rose of Sharon

Hibiscus syriacus Hibisa® 'Sangria' is a unique selection of rose of Sharon with an incredibly exotic appearance. Its large, silky-textured flowers in deep purple-pink with mauve highlights are adorned with small petals around a carmine-red centre. This fabulous flowering renews itself from summer through autumn. It is an easy-to-grow bush with a manageable size, perfect for small gardens and container cultivation. It can withstand temperatures down to -15°C and tolerates fairly dry summers.

Hibiscus syriacus, belonging to the Malvaceae family, is commonly known as rose of Sharon, Syrian ketmia, or Syrian hibiscus. This deciduous bush originates from East Asia, particularly China and Taiwan. Introduced to Europe via Syria, it is now widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. It has given rise to numerous cultivars and hybrids with closely related species such as Hibiscus sinosyriacus and paramutabilis.

The Hibisa® Sangria cultivar is part of the Hibisa® series, developed for its ease of cultivation and strikingly large, vividly coloured flowers. The foliage of Hibiscus Hibisa® (including the 'Cocktail', 'Blanco', 'Rosada', and 'Sangria' cultivars) is quite unusual. The leaves are often single but deeply lobed and finely toothed. The leaf is divided into 3 to 5 deep lobes with distinctly wavy or crinkled edges, almost palmate in appearance. The leaves measure between 5 and 12 cm in length and about 4 to 10 cm in width. Their texture is slightly leathery, and their bright to dark green colour provides a beautiful backdrop for the flowers. This foliage is deciduous, shedding in autumn and regrowing in spring, later in the season, as is typical for all syriacus varieties.

This bush has an upright habit, with erect branches forming an elegant and well-structured silhouette. The Hibisa Sangria variety reaches approximately 2.5 m in height and 1.5 m in width when planted in the ground, while in pots, it remains more compact, around 1.5 m tall. Its large, solitary flowers, growing in the axils of the leaves, measure between 16 and 20 cm in diameter and display an intense purple-pink hue, accentuated by a deep carmine-red centre. They often feature additional small petals at the centre of the corolla. The separate or slightly fused petals form a funnel-shaped corolla. At the centre, the stamens are united into a long tube surrounding the style. Flowering begins in July and continues until October, with ephemeral blooms constantly renewing themselves. Pollination is mainly carried out by insects. The stems are slender, grey, marked with white lenticels and distinct foliar scars. The taproot system, with a deep main root and lateral roots extending horizontally up to 1.2 m, provides excellent stability and drought resistance.

Hibiscus Hibisa® Sangria adds a stunning exotic touch to gardens or terraces. Plant it as a standalone specimen to showcase its extraordinary flowering, in a lush border, or in a large container near an entrance or terrace. To enhance its tropical appeal, pair it with decorative foliage such as the deep purple to black Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’, or the vivid purple and red Castor Bean ‘Carmencita’. Complement with Hedychium coccineum ‘Tara’ for their exotic orange inflorescences.