Hibiscus syriacus French Cabaret Purple - Rose of Sharon

Hibiscus syriacus 'French Cabaret Purple', also known as Tree Mallow or Rose of Sharon, impresses with its abundant late and unique flowering. It bears double and delicately crinkled purple flowers, with additional shades of mauve and purple in the multiple swirls of its petals. This small bush develops an upright and vigorous growth, and is adorned with a dense, lush and particularly healthy foliage. It is unrivalled in its ability to liven up a flowering hedge, bed or large container near the house, from the end of summer to the beginning of autumn. This recent variety is easy to grow in the sun in ordinary soil, and even soil that is slightly chalky and occasionally dry. It is not afraid of the cold or the heat.

Hibiscus syriacus, sometimes called Garden Hibiscus or Rose of Sharon, is a hardy bush, deciduous in colder climates, but evergreen in warm climates, belonging to the mallow family, just like hollyhocks and marsh mallows. It originates from temperate regions of Asia (China, India), and has given rise to numerous cultivars including the 'French Cabaret' series, developed in France, which stands out for its healthy and vigorous growth, and abundant flowering with sterile flowers that do not produce fruits. 'French Cabaret Purple' forms a bush 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall and 1 m (3 ft 4 in) to 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) wide, with an upright habit, supported by erect and vigorous branches, with a fairly slow growth. It blooms in September, even in August in southern regions, and its short-lived flowers that wither in 24 hours renew themselves continuously until October. They are composed of numerous mauve to violet petals with purple reflections. Its foliage is very healthy, bright green and slightly glossy. The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to lanceolate; their edges are dentate and undulate.

The Rose of Sharon 'French Cabaret Purple' appreciates bright, warm exposures, and can tolerate some light shade in southern regions. This hibiscus requires no maintenance and grows slowly but steadily. Plant it in a sheltered spot from strong winds, in soil that remains slightly moist until the end of summer. This highly ornamental cultivar can be used as a medium-sized hedge, in combination with other hibiscus varieties with different colours, as well as in isolation or at the back of a perennial bed composed of dwarf conifers, asters or shrubby salvias, for example. Its modest size allows it to be grown in a large container, in a nutrient-rich substrate, to fully enjoy its flowering on the terrace or balcony.