ROSE OF SHARON

ALTHEA SYRIACUS

Many will agree July is the month the garden reaches its fullest potential, providing such a variety of color, flower forms and sizes, as well an assortment of fragrance.  Althea syriacus, also known as Hardy Hibiscus or Rose of Sharon is a must have and favorite for the  mid-summer garden providing many of these qualities.

This easy to care for plant can be used in a variety of ways, including as a large multi stemmed shrub  functioning as a showy privacy screen, or more as small tree pruned on a standard as more of a specimen/focal point.  Althea also works well on the patio garden as a container planting or included in a raised planter. Althea’s various forms lends itself well in either a formal or less formal setting.

This plant is adaptable to variety of climates from Zone 5-9 and tolerant  of a variety of well drained soils. Althea will produce flowers in both sun/part shade conditions. The showy and fragrant flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds and those wanting to add a tropical look to their garden. Bloom colors vary from purple, white, red, pink, and blue.

Pests to look out for are Aphids and Japanese Beetles. Bacterial leaf spot and fungus can also be a problem under wet conditions.

 Although the flower is showy, the fruit is not, which allows for less of a mess in the garden and is a good choice for areas around patios and drives.

   GROWN IN STANDARD TREE FORM      TROPICAL LOOK OF THE BLOOM

Take a look at some of the links below for additional information:

 www.ext.vt.edu/departments/envirohort/factsheets/shrubs/rsoshar.html

HELLEBORUS ORIENTALIS

LENTON ROSE

Zones 3-10

Lenton Rose is a modest shade loving perennial that can be found carpeting the shady woodland floors in late winter, early spring when the choices of blooming plants are minimal. Only growing 12-18 inches tall and spreading 15-18 inches in width, this plant creates the biggest impact in the early spring when planted in larger groupings and allowed to reseed.

The clusters of 1-4 nodding blooms range in color from pink, purple, white, and near white with some variation with speckled coloring. In colder climates the fan shaped, or palmatum leaf tends to be deciduous to semi-evergreen through the winter months, however in slightly warmer climates this herbaceous perennial, becomes more woody as it matures and will keep its foliage through the winter. 

Those plant lovers who are looking for a durable, easy to care for naturalizing plant, Lenton Rose is for you. Lenton Rose is  not a food favorite of deer, so it is also a great plant for deer prone areas. A couple things to keep in mind before deciding if this is a plant for you:

This plant is poisonous if ingested, therefore this plant is best used in areas where small children who tend to grab things or dogs who like to chew can not get too.

This plant will also do best in organic, well drained soil in a slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil. You may experience winter damage if planted in cold windy areas as well.

Helleborus orientalis wide foliage looks great with other low maintenance woodland perennials such as ferns, hostas, sarcocca, bleeding heart, lungwort, bergenia etc.