Hibiscus syriacus 'PURPUREUS VARIEGATUS'

Rose-of-Sharon deserves more attention for its abundant flowering in mid summer. It comes from eastern Asia and is absolutely frost hardy. There have been a number of cultivars available since its discovery, they vary by bloom colours, shapes and sizes, they even have varigated foliage which is this case.

Purpureus Variegatus is an unusual variety of Rose-of-Sharon. It is commonly demanded for its variegated leaves rather than flower. The leaves are pea-green in the centre and creamy white at margins. They are a little larger than on other hibiscus varieties. The plant produces numerous, burgundy red flowers buds that never open entirely and remain half-closed.

If the leaves turn yellow in summer the plant manifests too much water at the roots. The hibiscus is either over-watered or planted in too heavy, water-logged soil that might cause serious problems. Hibiscus is a typical example of a plant where the borderline between favourably moist soil (which they need) and wet soil can be tricky. Our advice is: water it well when you plant it, mulch it well and let it be well. Only when you see the leaves are drooping water it again.

I am quite surprised when I read comments about its pruning. Especially in older encyclopedias and on some West-European and American websites it is recommended to prune it every spring after frosts to encourage better flowering. Our hibiscus plants were only trimmed when they were young, and we did it before we planted them to achieve a compact shapes if the plants were delivered unsightly. Then nothing. They are located in different places throughout the garden with various soil types and quality, and they all grow relatively the same speed = medium slow (10-15 cm per year). Such short branches, however, are fully mature, woody and well branched which is a guarantee for profuse flowering the following year. If you prune your hibiscus hard, it may result in larger flowers but also in too long branches that will need to be trimmed again next year, and on and on. The only cut I suggest is when you need to reduce size of an old specimen.

Rose-of-Sharon is quite adaptable of soil type. As explained above it likes moist but well-drained soil, medium fertile. Older plants dislike peat. Selective fertilizers for better flowering are convenient. Place it in full sun. Fully hardy to min. -27°C (USDA zone 6, very likely 5).

Last update 13-08-2011.