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Rose of Sharon
Habit (mature) · Filip Maljković / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Limited coverage
Rose of Sharon
Hibiscus syriacus
A vigorous, upright, vase-shaped deciduous shrub native to eastern Asia (China to India) — not the Middle East its epithet implies — grown for showy hollyhock-like 5-petaled flowers up to 3 inches across with a prominent central staminal column. The long early-summer-to-fall bloom fills a late-season gap when most shrubs are done flowering. Tolerant of summer heat, humidity, drought, clay, and urban conditions, though species plants can self-seed aggressively and are reported invasive in parts of the eastern US.
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: moderate (44/100)
Focal point
Structure
Pollinator
Light
Full sun / Part shade
Water
Moderate water
Mature size
96-144" tall · 96" apart
Hardy in zones
5a-8b
very cold to frosty winters
Summer heat range
Cool-Hot
cool to hot summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
No
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A documented larval host for the Painted lady — caterpillars feed on its foliage before becoming the next generation.
Wildlife relationships
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/rose-of-sharon
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder
Botanical research database
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 2.0
Backs 1 field
Image
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
University extension service
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
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