Hibiscus syriacus Totus Albus - Rose of Sharon

Hibiscus syriacus'Totus Albus' produces large flowers of immaculate white, soothing the vibrant colours in the garden and emphasising pastel blooms. The large funnel-shaped corollas sometimes display an additional collar of petals in the centre, accentuating the innocent side of this elegant variety. Fleeting, they renew themselves every day from summer to autumn, as long as the weather remains mild. This floriferous bush can be combined with all other plants. Perfect for every garden, it is tolerant of cold, limestone and heat. 

Hibiscus syriacus, sometimes called Garden Hollyhock, is a very hardy deciduous shrub in our climates, but evergreen in warm climates. It belongs to the Malvaceae family, just like hollyhocks and marsh mallow plants. It is native to temperate regions of Asia (China, India), and has given rise to numerous cultivars, including 'Totus Albus', which stands out for its healthy, dense, and bushy growth, as well as its most elegant flowering. 'Totus Albus' forms a shrub that reaches a height of 2 m (6.6 ft) and a width of 1.5 m (4.9 ft), with an erect habit, supported by upright branches, and grows quite quickly. It blooms for a long time if the weather remains mild, and its ephemeral flowers, which wither within 24 hours, continuously renew themselves until October. Single to semi-double, they are 8 cm to 10 cm (3.1 in to 3.9 in) wide and composed of sparkling white petals arranged around a white throat. Its foliage is very healthy, bright green, slightly shiny, and turns yellow in autumn. The leaves are alternate, simple, heart-shaped, and lobed; their edges are toothed and undulate.

'Totus Albus' prefers bright and warm exposures, and can tolerate light shade in sunny regions. It requires no maintenance and grows slowly but steadily in the first years. Plant it in a sheltered spot from strong winds, in soil that remains slightly moist until the end of summer. This highly ornamental variety can be used as a medium-sized hedge, in combination with other hibiscus of different colours, buddleias, shrub roses, and Indian Lilacs, as well as isolated or at the back of a perennial bed composed of daylilies, catmints, asters, or shrubby salvias, for example. Its modest size allows it to be grown in a large container with a nutritious substrate, so you can fully enjoy its flowering on a terrace or balcony.