Short-lived corollas two to three inches across, blue, pink, white or red, single or double and often darker at the centre, open in succession from midsummer to mid-autumn: this is the Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), an easygoing shrub for beds and mixed hedges. Give it full sun and well drained soil, sheltered from cold winds.
Hibiscus also exist as shrubs that have adapted to colder, temperate latitudes. They often gild our summer days with multicolored dream-like flowers.
Native to India and China, the Hibiscus syriacus plant was introduced to the West in 1596 and is known by many different denominations: althea, rose mallow, Rose of Sharon, Syrian ketmia, etc.
It is a shrub that is easygoing and adapts well to diverse environments.
The spectacular blooming constantly renews itself from midsummer to mid-autumn. Flowers are superb and short-lived corollas that are 2 to 3 inches (6 to 8 cm) across. They appear one after another, either alone or in pairs. Be they blue, pink, white or red, single or double, they sometimes have a richer hue in their center, which enhances the decorative value of the hibiscus.
Pruned in free shapes, your hibiscus can become beautiful shrubs that are very dense with upright stems. They may reach up to 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) high and 5 feet (1.5 meters) across.
Together with other shrubs or perennials, hibiscus will bring a touch of joy to your flower beds (planting distance: about 5 feet (1.5 meters) apart). It is also possible to plant hibiscus in perennial flower beds, to give the scenery a little depth. One or more hibiscus planted as part of mixed hedges produce a marvelous impression.
In smaller gardens, they are also fine as standalones decorating a lawn. If you are patient, it is possible to prune your hibiscus to give it the shape of a small tree.
Prune year after year to form a short trunk while maintaining the volume of the crest. This will lead you to having a cute flower-bearing miniature tree.
The same shrub can be trained in several ways, and the choice depends mostly on the space you have. Here is what the article says about each option.
| Growing form | Size or spacing | Where it suits | Pruning involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free-shaped shrub | 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 m) high, 5 feet (1.5 m) across | Open ground, dense upright habit | Pruned in free shapes |
| In a flower bed | About 5 feet (1.5 m) apart | With other shrubs or perennials, adds depth | Free shaping |
| Part of a mixed hedge | One or more plants in the line | Mixed hedges, for a marvellous impression | Free shaping |
| Standalone miniature tree | Short trunk with the crest kept in volume | Small gardens, decorating a lawn | Pruned year after year, needs patience |
| Stem or “lollipop” hibiscus | Container 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm) deep | Balconies and square garden boxes | Tolerates severe pruning |
Whichever form you choose, the flowering habit stays the same: blooms opening one after another over months.
Thanks to its density and its resilience after severe pruning, hibiscus is very well adapted to being grown on balconies. Indulge the unique elegance of a stem hibiscus. It’s sometimes also called “Lollipop hibiscus” because it’s shaped like a lollipop! These are sometimes braided, which results in thicker, stronger trunks.
You may purchase it already shaped. Repot it to a container that is 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm) deep. A square garden box is perfect. Your flower-bearing miniature tree will surely be noticed!
Marie Etavard
Because Buddleja davidii blooms on the current season’s growth, shorten its shoots in late winter or early spring, before growth resumes, so the new wood it produces will carry that summer’s flowers.
