Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Rosids: Malvids: Malvales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Hibiscus syriacus
FAMILY
Malvaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Read more about Rose-of-Sharon at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Hibiscus syriacus
FAMILY
Malvaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America
Hibiscus syriacus
SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 122-08-001:
Hibiscus syriacus FAMILY Malvaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Hibiscus syriacus
COMMON NAME:
Rose-of-Sharon, Althea
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913 pnd_hisy_001_lvd
)
JK Marlow jkm0407n_17
July Sevier County TN
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Stamens form a column surrounding (but free from) the style of the pistil, per Trees of the Southeastern United States (Duncan & Duncan, 1988).
)
JK Marlow jkm0407n_21
July Sevier County TN
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Occasionally forms thickets, per Trees of the Southeastern United States (Duncan & Duncan, 1988).
)
JK Marlow jkm0407n_22
July Sevier County TN
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Leaves more than 2-ranked, usually lobed, margin coarsely toothed, per Trees of the Southeastern United States (Duncan & Duncan, 1988).
)
JK Marlow jkm0407y_01
July Greenville County SC
)
JK Marlow jkm0407y_02
July Greenville County SC
)
JK Marlow jkm090812_004
August Greenville County SC
5 triangular calyx lobes and 7-10 linear involucral bracts, per Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968).
)
Paul Thompson psthibiscus_syriacus
September?
Leaf shape is ovate. — Clemson Extension
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Hibiscus syriacus
FAMILY
Malvaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Hibiscus syriacus
FAMILY
Malvaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America
Hibiscus syriacus
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 122-08-001:
Hibiscus syriacus
FAMILY
Malvaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Hibiscus syriacus
688
Shrub
Perennial
Habitat: Escaped or persistent after cultivation, often spreading by rhizomes, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: east Asia
Uncommon (rare in GA Coastal Plain)
Click here to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
Click here to see a map showing all occurrences known to SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria. (Zoom in to see more detail.)
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2006
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2013
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2009
LEAVES:
Deciduous
Simple
Alternate
FLOWER:
Summer/Fall
White/ Pink/ Lavender
(usually with a dark red center)
5 sepals united at base or more than half their length
5 petals united at base
Stamens united to form a staminal column surrounding ovary and styles
Superior ovary
Flowers in leaf axils
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Capsule
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- All About South Carolina Wildflowers (Midgley, 1999) p178
- Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southeast (Foote & Jones, 1989) p094
- Trees of the Southeastern United States (Duncan & Duncan, 1988) p202
- Wildflowers of Tennessee (Carman, 2005) p069
- Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley, and the Southern Appalachians (Horn, Cathcart, Hemmerly, & Duhl, 2005) p091
- Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide (Lance, 2004) p160