Common Name: Rose Of Sharon

General Information

Hibiscus syriacus is an erect, deciduous shrub growing 1.5 - 4 metres tall[].
An excellent hedge plant, it provides edible leaves and flowers, has a range of medicinal applications and also produces fibre, oil etc. The plant is widely cultivated as an ornamental in tropical to temperate regions[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - southern China (Anhui, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, and Zhejiang)

Habitat

Sea cliffs, hillsides, along streams, roadsides, also extensively cultivated; at elevations up to 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 28°c, but can tolerate 11 - 41°c[]. A very hardy plant, it can often tolerate temperatures down to -20°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 600 - 1,400mm, but tolerates 500 - 1,500mm[]. The plant flowers late in the growing season, however, and is thus subject to frost damage in areas with short growing seasons and autumn frosts. The new growth in spring can also be damaged by frosts[].
Prefers a well-drained humus rich fertile soil in a sheltered position in full sun[]. Succeeds in any soil of good or moderate quality[]. Dislikes shade or badly drained soils[]. Plants grow best with their roots in cool moist soil and their tops in a hot sunny position. Tolerant of some drought and of urban pollution[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7.5, tolerating 5 - 8[].
Plants are more cold-tender when young and, when planted in areas near their limits of hardiness, will need some protection for their first few winters[].
The plant can self-seed aggressively in optimum growing conditions[].
Plants rarely require pruning[], though they respond well to pruning and trimming and this is best carried out in the spring or just after flowering[].
A very ornamental plant[], there are many named varieties[].
Hibiscus syriacus is the national flower of South Korea[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked[, , , ]. A very mild flavour, though slightly on the tough side, they make an acceptable addition to the salad bowl[].

A tea is made from the leaves[, , ] or the flowers[].

Flowers - raw or cooked[, , ]. A mild flavour and mucilaginous texture, they are delightful in salads, both for looking at and for eating[]. The flowers are produced all year round[].

Root - it is edible but very fibrous[]. Mucilaginous, without very much flavour[].

Medicinal

The leaves are diuretic, expectorant and stomachic[, ].

A decoction of the flowers is diuretic, ophthalmic and stomachic[, , ]. It is also used in the treatment of itch and other skin diseases[], dizziness and bloody stools accompanied by much gas[].

A decoction of the root bark is antiphlogistic, demulcent, emollient, febrifuge, haemostatic and vermifuge[, ]. It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, abdominal pain, leucorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea[, ] and dermaphytosis[].
The bark contains several medically active constituents, including mucilage, carotenoids, sesquiterpenes and anthocyanidins[]

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant grows well as an informal hedge and responds well to trimming so can also be grown as a formal hedge[, , ].

Other Uses

A low quality fibre is obtained from the stems. It is used for making cordage and paper[].

The seed contains about 25% oil[]. No further details are given, but it is likely to be edible.

A hair shampoo is made from the leaves[].

An extract of the bark is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].
An extract of the buds is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an antioxidant, skin conditioner and skin protector[].
An extract of the leaves is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an antioxidant, skin conditioner and skin protector[].
An extract of the flowers is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an antioxidant[].
An essential oil from the flowers is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].
An extract of the seeds is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an emollient[].
The oil from the seed is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an antioxidant, skin conditioner and skin protector[].
An extract of the roots is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an antioxidant[].
An extract of the callus of the plants is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an antioxidant, hair conditioner and skin conditioner[].

A blue dye is obtained from the flowers[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse. Germination is usually fairly rapid and no special pretreatment is needed, although germination will be faster if the seed is abraded or soaked prior to sowing[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow them on in the greenhouse for their first year and to plant them out in early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame[]. They generally strike readily, particularly if cuttings are taken on an angle through a node and rooting hormone is applied to their ends[]. Overwinter them in a warm greenhouse and plant out after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of mature wood, early autumn in a frame. Good percentage[].
Layering in mid summer to early autumn[].