Hibiscus, Rose of Sharon, Shrub Althea 'Helene'

Beautiful plant. I have two which I'm training into standards. Low maintenance, blooms profusely from May-Dec.
Sep 2009. Stil...Read Morel growing them as standards, but have not been able to achieve a compact canopies.

I purchased this plant last year and love it! In my zone-7b backyard, it was a prolific bloomer all last summer in white hibiscus-flower...Read Mores with shocking pink centers. It seemed to thrive in the hot Georgia sun and wasn't phased at all by the poor clay-mud soil.
I'd read that the Helene is far hardier than other hibiscus plants, but wasn't confident it would survive the winter outside last year. -But it did!! It filled out beautifully in early spring looking full, healthy, and vibrantly green. I can't wait for the blooms!

I must confess, though, the only reason I purchased it in the first place was that it shares the name of my dear grandmother, Helene. I knew nothing else about it (or any other type of hibiscus) at that time. I just trusted that, with a name like Helene, I'd be safe. -I was right. :)

Grows easily from seed, can be pruned to any size you would like to keep it. Blooms later in season when all other shrubs seem to have quit blooming.