Blue Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) - Seeds - The hardy hibiscus in elegant blue

The rose of Sharon, botanically *Hibiscus syriacus*, brings a genuine South Seas flair to the home garden without the need to worry about frost protection in winter. While most other woody plants have long since finished their blooming period by midsummer, this shrub reaches its peak performance starting in July. It opens countless large, cup-shaped flowers in a rare, cool blue to violet-blue with a deep red, almost burgundy-colored center. I particularly value this shrub as a reliable late bloomer that brings color to the garden or patio well into October, while serving as a valuable source of food for bumblebees and bees.

Scope of delivery: 20 seeds each

*Hibiscus syriacus* grows as an upright, well-branched, deciduous shrub and reaches a height of about 1.5 to 2.5 meters in the open garden, depending on the location. However, it can also be excellently cultivated in a large tub. A special feature of the rose of Sharon is its very late budding in the spring – the first lobed leaves often do not appear until May, when many other shrubs are already fully leafed out. It requires a fully sunny, warm, and wind-protected spot; in the shade, flowering is significantly reduced. The soil should be nutrient-rich, humus-rich, and well-drained, as the roots cannot tolerate waterlogging. Since the rose of Sharon forms its buds exclusively on the current year's wood, I can prune it back vigorously in early spring before it buds without any problems. This keeps the plant compact and stimulates the formation of new, bloom-strong shoots.

Planted out, older specimens are well winter-hardy in our latitudes and easily survive temperatures down to about -20 degrees Celsius. Only the young plants grown from seeds are still somewhat sensitive to frost in the first two to three winters. I therefore initially overwinter young specimens in pots in a cool, frost-free place at about 5 to 10 degrees Celsius (since they shed their leaves in winter, they require almost no light and very little water during this dormant phase) or protect them outdoors with a thick layer of brushwood and leaves until the wood has fully matured.

In addition to its high ornamental value as a solitary shrub or in flowering hedges, the rose of Sharon is also culinary interesting. The large petals are edible, have a mild, slightly sweet taste, and are excellent as an edible decoration on summer salads, desserts, or in cool drinks. Furthermore, in traditional East Asian medicine, the flowers, leaves, and root bark have been used for centuries for soothing teas and extracts.

Botanically, *Hibiscus syriacus* belongs to the large mallow family (Malvaceae). The scientific species name "syriacus" is historically a mistake: although Carl von Linné named the plant after Syria in the 18th century because it reached Europe via oriental trade routes and Syrian gardens, its actual home is in temperate to subtropical East Asia, especially in China, India, and Korea. In South Korea, the plant has enormous cultural significance under the name "Mugunghwa" (which translates to "immortal flower") and is revered there as the official national flower.