Hibiscus syriacus cultivars.
The Rose of Sharon or Rose Mallow is from China.
They are deciduous shrubs up to 4 m high with erect and spreading stems from near the base.
The alternate leaves, 5 to 10 cm long are on petioles.
Their outline can be ovate, obovate or rhomboidal.
They have coarse blunt teeth and are often divided into 3 shallow lobes.
There are 3 or 4 prominent veins from the base.
The solitary bell to funnel-shaped flowers, on pedicels are up to 10 cm across.
The 5 or more narrow trianguler bracts in the epicalyx are almost as long as the calyx.
The bell-shaped green calyx tube has 5 pointed lobes.
The 5 spreading obovate petals have an irregular edge.
Typical flowers are pink with a red base.
The many cultivars can have single, double or triple flowers.
Colours include blue, shades of purple, mauve, yellow and red as well as white.
Flowers can be a single colour or have a dark central spot.
The white staminal column has 5 pointed teeth on the end.
The pale anthers are attached to the upper half or more of the column.
The superior ovary has 5 locules.
The white style only extends a short distance above the tube.
The 5 short style branches hold white stigma lobes.
The fruit are capsules with numerous seeds.
J.F.
