Althea Tree, Red Heart 7 Gallon

Red Heart Rose Of Sharon
Hibiscus syriacus 'Red Heart'

Height:  10 feet

Spread:  8 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade

Hardiness Zone:  5b

Other Names:  Shrub Althea

Description:

A wonderfully distinctive variety of this old-fashioned favorite featuring ostentatious pure white flowers with the most prominent rich ruby-red blotch at the base of each petal surrounding a white stamen cone; commands attention in the garden

Ornamental Features

Red Heart Rose Of Sharon features bold white trumpet-shaped flowers with ruby-red centers along the branches from mid summer to early fall. It has green deciduous foliage. The lobed leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color.

Landscape Attributes

Red Heart Rose Of Sharon is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a high maintenance shrub that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

Insects
Disease
Red Heart Rose Of Sharon is recommended for the following landscape applications;

Accent
Mass Planting
Hedges/Screening
General Garden Use
Container Planting
Planting & Growing

Red Heart Rose Of Sharon will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 8 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.