Plant Identification

Question

Sadly, my garden was demolished by hail, but I would still like to know what this flower is. It was gifted to me by an old man who admired my alley garden and felt I needed it. It is lovely, but nameless. It grows quite tall--over four feet, and is somewhat like a hollyhock in stem. However the buds cluster at the tops and result in these very papery and delicate white flowers--quite large and with that magenta center.

Margery Orrison Snyder · Answer

Looks like a Rose of Sharon, but they are usually a bush or tree.

Catherine Smith · Answer

Looks like hollyhocks to me. :) I have Rose of Sharon and that's not it.

Maggie C · Answer

hollyhock. They spread.

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

Hollyhock leaves are fuzzy and the blooms are different. I am leaning toward a Hibiscus and pretty positive that it is.

Sandy Butzke · Answer

Looks like a hibiscus, which is the same family as rose of sharon.

Terresa K · Answer

It's not a Hollyhock

Glenda Thompson · Answer

This is a hardy hibiscus the seed pods look like rose of sharon, orka, cotton they are all from the same family.

Lana C · Answer

This is definitely a hardy hibiscus. There are several varieties. My second favorite flowering plant. They get very large and the huge blossoms really show off in the garden late July almost up to frost here in Michigan. Unfortunately the japanese beetles love them too. Just google Hardy hibiscus and you will see all the wonderful varieties. Be careful not to confuse them with the tropical hibiscus which are not perennial in cold climates.

Sensible Gardening and Living · Answer

Hardy hibiscus gets my vote too.

Lori J · Answer

Thanks, folks. I knew it was NOT a hollyhock. Seems to need support, so it is in a tall tomato cage. It did not fare as badly as most of my garden, upon closer inspection today.

Lorraine McLaney · Answer

It looks like what we in the south call a 'dinner plate hibiscus'.

Lori J · Answer

They are so darned pretty!

DebFA · Answer

It is a Hardy Hibiscus and know that it will die-back every fall and will come up each spring from the ground. If I find my plants needing support, I use a round frame used for peonies.

Heather (New House New Home) · Answer

It's definitely a hardy hibiscus - I have a red one blooming right now.

Luis · Answer

Lori that is Rose of Sharon(Hibiscus syriacus) it comes in a variety of colors

Denise · Answer

Definitely Rose of Sharon. They will grow into tall bushes and butterfly's love them!

Stephanie · Answer

i could be wrong, but i do believe its a rose of sharon. which i believe in the hibiscus family

Patti Lemaire · Answer

Rose of Sharon, a type of hibiscus. It grows as a large shrub in Ontario Canada.

Linda Cullen · Answer

yes, I say Rose of Sharon....

JuaCarMul · Answer

I first thought it was a Rose of Sharon until I looked closely at the foliage. I have some very old Rose of Sharon bushes that are sprouted everywhere now. From a very small plant, the stem is very sturdy and a tree-like brown color. Also, the leaves are shaped different. Ole Timers in the Appalachian South call them Dog Lilly also. Probably because they start blooming during Dogs Days of summer. Although a relative of the Rose of Sharon, I tend to agree that this is a Hibiscus of some type.

Found & Fancied Goods · Answer

Looks like a Lunar Hibiscus. I have one in my garden.

Peg · Answer

The Rose of Sharons and the Hibiscus have similar flowers. The Rose of Sharon will grow more dense/shrub like, leaves are different than most hardy hibiscus which is less compact. These flower buds in your pic resemble the hardy hibiscus, not the Rose of Sharon, this will help identify the plant. The Rose of Sharons have different leaves too.

P · Answer

Rose of Sharon...aka Hardy Hibiscus

Judy · Answer

It's a hibiscus. It's a perennial which reseeds. I have them popping up in different parts of my garden.

Karen · Answer

Rose of Sharon....hibiscus...perennial. I love the blooms, have several in my yard, the bees, hummingbirds love them, and you have to watch out for the squirrel as I've noticed they like to eat the flowers!

Alice Harley-Wosnig · Answer

It isn't a Rose of Sharon. The foliage is different. They are related but not the same. Here is a link about Hibiscus http://www.homeofhibiscus.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=10

Peg · Answer

confusing, yes! Rose of Sharon is from the 'genus- hibiscus' which is from the 'mallow family'. There are over 200 species of hibiscus. Rose of Sharon, (the common name), is 'hibiscus syriacus'. Living in northern cold climates, a 'hardy' hibiscus will survive the winters. I have a few 'hardy' hibiscus, but they are not the same plant. Then there are all types of hibiscus from the tropics, Asia, Africa, China, Hawaii, ect that grow as potted plants up north and as perennials in the south. The hibiscus that I brought up from Florida grow in pots in NY and I bring them indoors for the winter. BTW - there is another 'rose of sharon' plant from the 'hypericum/St. John's wort.

Lori J · Answer

Well, whatever it is, it is darned pretty and very thankfully, something that survived the hail and is blooming yet.

Shelley Sansom · Answer

It is a Rose of Sharon like the others have already said. It's scientific name is Hibiscus syriacus and it belongs to the family Malvaceae. The family includes Hibiscus and Abutilon (Chinese Lanterns) they all have one thing in common a staminal column which is in the center of the flower and is the reproductive part of the plant. Some of my horticultural terms may be different to yours as I live in Australia.

Debbie · Answer

definitely a perennial hibiscus. I have them in white like yours and pinks. I also have rose of Sharon's as well that grow like a large bush or small tree with a bark like limb. Your perennial stem will remain a green stem

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