Opulent flowers in a host of shapes and colours open in succession from midsummer well into autumn, on a deciduous shrub of 3 to 13 feet (1 to 4 m). Hibiscus althea (Hibiscus syriacus) is among the loveliest flowering shrubs for hedge, bed or pot; give it full sun sheltered from wind and it flowers on and on.
| Name | Hibiscus syriacus |
|---|---|
| Family | Malvaceae (mallow family) |
| Type | shrub |
| Height | 3 to 13 feet (1 to 4 m) |
| Exposure | full sun, part sun |
| Foliage | deciduous |
| Flowering | midsummer to late autumn |
Caring for this plant, from planting to blooming and including watering and pruning, is easy and it will give you magnificent flowers.
For indoor hibiscus care, here is the advice to follow.
All year round, the shrub must be planted in a soil mix designed for flowering plants, for planting, or any universal soil mix.
Prefer planting in fall or spring if you have purchased the shrub in a pot or a container.
Cuttings are very easy to perform in spring for hibiscus althea.
Simply keep cut stems in a vase with water, and plant as soon as a few roots appear.
Everything this shrub asks for happens at a set moment of the year. Here are the main tasks, the season they belong to, and what each one involves.
| Task | Season | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Planting in the open ground | early to mid-spring, or mid-autumn | Pot-grown or container plants, in a sun-bathed spot sheltered from stronger winds |
| Planting in a pot | any season | Use a soil mix for flowering plants, for planting, or a universal soil mix |
| Repotting | early to mid-spring | At least every second year, into a pot slightly larger than the previous one |
| Taking cuttings | early to mid-spring | Keep cut stems in a vase of water and plant once a few roots appear |
| Pruning | early to mid-spring | Remove inward-growing branches, then shorten remaining stems by about two thirds |
| Winter protection | late autumn onwards | Where it freezes, wrap the plant in horticultural fleece |
Keep to this rhythm and the shrub will reward you with flower after flower.
Spring is when hibiscus must be pruned.
Hibiscus althea, also called simply Althea, is very certainly one of the most beautiful flowering shrubs, and fits not only any garden well, but also terraces and balconies.
The numerous cultivars that are circulating allow for as many shapes and colors, and each is more beautiful than the next.
Even if this shrub prefers warm climates, several varieties are very hardy and well suited to harsher climates.
Whatever the configuration – hedge, flower bed or stand-alone – Hibiscus althea will enchant you with the beauty of its flowers.
Its blooming is very generous, in that it is both opulent and constantly renews itself from July to October and even November if the weather stays mild.
If it freezes in your area, it is highly recommended to winterize your plant with horticultural fleece as early as November!
