Hibiscus syriacus French Point - Rose of Sharon

Hibiscus syriacus 'French Point' is remarkable with its white and double flowers with crumpled and irregularly fringed cherry red petals. Despite its exotic appearance, it is perfectly hardy and tolerates pruning very well. It is a very easy-to-grow ornamental shrub that can be integrated into any type of garden.

Hibiscus belongs to the Malvaceae family. It has a highly branched habit with upright and rigid stems, forming a rounded bush with age. The leaves are deciduous, ovate, medium green, 6 to 10 cm (2.4 to 3.9 in) long, turning yellowish in autumn. It measures 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) to 3 m (9 ft 10 in) in height, with a spread of 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in). It can be kept smaller without any problem thanks to annual pruning (even hard pruning). It is suitable for small as well as large gardens. From July to October, large flowers appear at the axils of the leaves and on the year's new shoots, solitary or grouped in pairs, in a trumpet shape. The flowers are short-lived but are continuously renewed. The flower buds are beautifully turbinate. 'French Point', a recent variety, has very large semi-double flowers, 8 to 10 cm (3.1 to 3.9 in) in diameter, with crumpled, pure white petals and a dark red throat and fringes. After flowering, dehiscent capsules with 5 valves appear, containing hairy seeds.

A very easy-to-grow shrub with a great adaptability, Hibiscus syriacus 'French Point' grows in ordinary soil and in sunny to partially shaded locations. Particularly decorative and elegant, this tree mallow can be installed in multiple ways in the garden: as a standalone specimen, in a shrub border, or in a mixed hedge. It is also possible to train Hibiscus syriacus as a standard; this pruning technique aims to create a short trunk while preserving the volume of the crown over the years, making the shrub original and floriferous. This way, the Rose of Sharon will be perfectly suited for container gardening on a balcony. As its root system is quite extensive, a large and deep container should be provided. Planting a group of several garden hibiscus of different varieties will create a beautiful effect, playing with the contrasting colours of the flowers and foliage.