Hibiscus syriacus Shintaeyang - Rose of Sharon

Hibiscus syriacus 'Shintaeyang', also known as Tree Mallow or Althaea, has a charm with tropical accents. Its single, bicoloured flower displays pure white petals, with a cherry-red splashed base that extends into short filaments. Enchanting, this deciduous shrub produces large flowers throughout the summer, similar to hollyhocks, that are short-lived but constantly renewed. A bit stiff in its youth, this variety becomes more bushy over time and forms a fabulous, very floriferous shrub. Whether in a flowering hedge, flower bed, or large container near the house, it is easy to grow in the sun and adapts to any well-drained, ordinary or even slightly chalky soil.

Hibiscus syriacus, sometimes called Rose Mallow, is a hardy shrub, deciduous in colder climates but evergreen in warm climates, belonging to the Malvaceae family, just like hollyhocks and marsh mallows. It is native to temperate regions of Asia and has given rise to numerous cultivars, including the 'Shintaeyang' variety, which stands out for its upright growth and abundant flowering from August to October. It is a shrub that reaches a height of 2 to 3 m (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in) and a spread of 1.5 to 2 m (4 ft 11 in to 6 ft 7 in), with an upright habit supported by an erect branching system and fairly slow growth. It produces large, single corollas in vibrant and contrasting white and red colours, surrounding a large central column of fused white stamens. Its foliage forms a beautiful dark background, of slightly glossy dark green. The leaves are alternate, lobed, and ovate to lanceolate, with dentate and undulate margins.

Rose Mallows have the advantage of flowering abundantly at a time when few shrubs are in bloom in the garden, in almost all soils and climates. 'Shintaeyang' Althaea thrives in bright, warm exposures. This hibiscus requires little maintenance and grows slowly but steadily. Plant it in a sheltered location away from strong winds, in a soil that remains slightly moist until the end of summer. This highly colourful but uncommon variety in our gardens can be used as a medium-sized hedge, in combination with other hibiscus varieties of different colours, or buddleias and abelias, as well as in isolation or at the back of a perennial flower bed composed of asters, phlox, daylilies, gauras, or shrubby mallows, for example.