Family: Malvaceae
Common name: Rose of Sharon, Shrub althea, Rose mallow, Korean hibiscus, Syrian ketmia, Rose of China
I am a big fan of Hibiscus plants, and I have a good collection of different colors of Hibiscus in my garden in Bangalore. When we went to Georgia, my son wanted to go to a football merchandise store. I was prepared to be bored for the extended period of time he would need to go through the different jerseys.
But just outside the Jassport store on Giorgi Tsabadze St, Tbilisi, I saw these beautiful plants full of flowers. There were white and pink flowers, blooming so profusely that they looked like a bunch of cut flowers.
Interestingly, after a few months, I also saw this plant at the Taj hotel, M G Road, Bangalore.
Plant Characteristics
Rose of Sharon plants are excellent for urban landscaping, flowering throughout spring and summer, beautifying the roads and parks they are planted on. Needless to say, I spent a long time photographing these plants until my son had to call me in to pay for his jersey.
Rose of Sharon plants are flowering shrubs or small trees native to East Asia where they have been cultivated for many centuries. They grow well in tropical as well as temperate weather, blooming well during spring and summer.
These plants grow to a height of 2-4 meters and can be pruned well to keep them thick and shrubby. If left unpruned, the plant grow multiple thin long stems that arch to the ground with the weight of the foliage and flowers.
Stem becomes thick and fissured as the plant ages, but is smooth in younger plants. Smart pruning can form Rose of Sharon into a small, well-rounded tree and not shrubs.
Leaves are mostly trilobed and serrated along the edges. They are dark, glossy green with a pale green color on the lower surface. Leaves will turn yellow and drop during autumn in cooler weather, but this deciduous nature is not very prominent in tropical weather.
Rose of Sharon plants are loved for their abundant blooms that cover the plant from June to October. Each flower is 6-12 cam in diameter with 5 distinct petals that are narrow at the base and broader towards the edges.
Color of the flowers vary from white, pink, lavender, blue, and dark pink. They have a darker colored throat with a prominent style that is typical of the Hibiscus family. Stamens are white with distinct rounded yellow tips.
Flowers only live for a day or two, but since the plant produces abundant blooms, it is covered by plentiful blooms during spring and summer. Domestic varieties do not produce fruits or seeds, but in the wild, these plants produce five-valved fruits contained small ovoid capsules of seeds.
Gardening Tips
Rose of Sharon plants grow best in bright, direct sunlight and well-draining soil. But these plants are very sturdy and can stand drought, poor soil conditions, and pollution, thriving on roadsides and abandoned areas.
Water regularly when the plant is small, and also during peak summer. Pruning must be done during early winter to help the plant conserve energy and produce new branches during spring.
They are susceptible to pest infestations and cankers. Treat with organic pesticides when you see the first signs of infestation, to keep the plant healthy.
These plants attract bees, butterflies, and small birds that help pollinate the flowers and also the other flowers in your garden. The common cultivars are Blue chiffon, Diana, Lavender chiffon, and Red heart all of them loved for their bright and beautiful flowers.
Rose of Sharon plants are closely related to Hibiscus rosa-sinensis or Chinese hibiscus, Hibiscus mutabilis or Cotton rose, and Hibiscus acetosella or Cranberry hibiscus.
Uses of Rose of Sharon
Parts of the plant are used in the treatment of fever, cough, stomach pain, skin diseases, and dysentery. Extracts from the leaves, flowers, and seeds are used as ingredients in skin and hair care products.
Fiber obtained from the stem is used for make ropes and paper. Flowers are used to make dyes, especially the blue-colored flowers.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds, stem cuttings, and grafting.
Since seeds are not very common in garden plants, propagation is mostly done through stem cuttings. 15-20 cm long softwood cuttings taken from the parent plant should be planted in moist, well-drained soil and kept in semi-shade till they produce small leaflets.
Photographed at: Giorgi Tsabadze St, Tbilisi; Taj hotel, M G road, Bangalore
