Blue Chiffon Rose of Sharon

Plant taxonomy classifies this blue rose of sharon as Hibiscus syriacus 'Notwoodthree' Blue Chiffon™. You may recognize the genus name as being the same as that for the hardy hibiscus flowers that are nicknamed "dinner-plate hibiscus." Blue Chiffon is the brand name, while the rarely used 'Notwoodthree' is the cultivar name. Another common name for this species is "shrub althea."

Hibiscus syriacus Blue Chiffon is a deciduous flowering shrub.

Blue hibiscus flowers adorn Hibiscus syriacus Blue Chiffon from mid-summer into fall. Flower color is a violet-blue. As with other hibiscus flowers, a striking stamen protrudes from the center; and the centers are stained a burgundy color, which "bleeds" outwards, terminating in rivulets. But Blue Chiffon offers a piece de resistance, as the white stamen is surrounded by a cluster of smaller, inner petals (also violet-blue in color) that gives these hibiscus flowers a frilly or "double" appearance. The shrubs stand 8-12 feet tall, with a spread of 6-10 feet, at maturity.

Hibiscus syriacus Blue Chiffon grows best in planting zones 5-8.

Grow Hibiscus syriacus Blue Chiffon in full sun to partial sun and in well-drained, loamy soil enriched with humus.

With its blue hibiscus flowers, this bush is attractive enough to be used as a specimen. Plant several of the shrubs together along a border to form an ornamental hedge; but as a deciduous shrub, it makes an effective privacy hedge only in summer.

Mulch the shrubs for weed control and to maintain moisture in the soil. Fortunately, the bushes are reasonably drought-tolerant once established. In fact, yellowing leaves on althea can be an indication of too much, rather than too little water. See below for information on how to prune rose of sharon.

Since it blooms on new wood, Hibiscus syriacus is normally pruned in spring -- if, indeed, pruning is deemed necessary, at all. Some may choose to prune it for shaping purposes or, on old shrubs, for rejuvenation.

Hibiscus syriacus Blue Chiffon attracts butterflies and is useful in hummingbird gardens.

Fortunately, rose of sharon shrubs are relatively deer-resistant.

Numerous and attractive flowers are a hallmark of the species, as is a late blooming period. Because of the latter trait, these shrubs are able to offer color in late summer and early autumn, when many shrubs have long ceased blooming. But Blue Chiffon offers an improvement on the species: its double hibiscus flowers. While the flowers are sometimes only bluish, at best, when fully open (the closed blooms appear bluer than the open ones), the fact that they are double is a major selling point.

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