Hibiscus syriacus 'LADY STANLEY' (syn. 'Elegantissimus') Rose-of-Sharon
Symbivit Tric (arbuscular)
Symbivit (arbuscular)Hibiscus
Hibiscus syriacus is a deciduous shrub from the mallow family (Malvaceae), native to East Asia – especially China, Korea, and India – and one of roughly 300 species in the genus Hibiscus. It reached Europe as early as the late 16th century, with the first recorded cultivation dating back to 1596. The species was scientifically described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 in his work Species Plantarum. The specific epithet syriacus refers to the fact that the first specimens he studied came from gardens in Syria, although the species does not grow wild there. Interestingly, in South Korea it has become the national flower and a symbol of perseverance, even appearing in the national anthem. I still reckon that it deserves much more attention than what is actually gets because with its long summer flowering in a range of colours that can brighten any garden, I consider it an essential part of a blooming summer garden.
Its common English name says Rose of Sharon, a poetic name borrowed from the biblical Song of Songs (2:1), where the speaker declares: “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.” The original Hebrew term referred to a flower growing in the fertile Sharon plain in what is now Israel, but it was almost certainly neither a rose nor a hibiscus. To this day, botanists and historians have not agreed whether it was a lily, narcissus, tulip, or crocus. Yet translations into European languages preserved the name “Rose of Sharon”, and over the centuries it came to be applied to different plants in various parts of the world – for example, in North America to Hibiscus syriacus, and in Britain sometimes even to Hypericum calycinum. This variety of usage is a simple cultural “translation shift”: people attached a familiar, poetically resonant name to plants in their region that resembled the original biblical flower – in appearance, flowering season, or symbolism.
Lady Stanley rose of Sharon is an old and exceptionally graceful cultivar with bicoloured flowers, historically also known under the name ‘Elegantissimus’. The blooms are almost white flushed pale pink with a more pronounced purplish centre and characteristic veining. They are semi‑double, usually 6–8 cm across, with inner petals forming a lightly frilled, irregular core. As cooler nights arrive towards the end of summer, the base colour deepens noticeably to cotton-candy pink. The overall impression is very delicate, almost watercolour‑like, and the cultivar appears more subtle in the garden than modern, more strongly coloured selections. It flowers reliably and for a long period, usually from mid‑July to September, and belongs among the cultivars that tolerate less‑than‑ideal conditions well. Thanks to its semi‑double form it does not suffer from bud abortion and flowers consistently even during rainy spells.
The deciduous leaves are three‑lobed, deeply cut, medium green, 5–7 cm long, with a finely serrated margin. The shrub grows upright at a moderate rate, producing around 25–35 cm of new growth a year and forming a compact, well‑branched habit. With its gentle colouring and elegant expression, it is well suited to romantic plantings, to combinations with roses or softly flowering perennials, or as a specimen in a smaller garden where its refined, cultivated character can stand out.
The name Lady Stanley does not refer to any documented figure associated with botany or horticulture. In the 19th century it was common to give new ornamental plants names inspired by the British aristocracy, and this cultivar most likely carries its name purely as a reflection of the taste of its time. The title Lady Stanley was held by several women who could theoretically have served as inspiration:
- Lady Maria Josepha Stanley (1766–1803) – an amateur flower painter.
- Lady Constance Stanley (1840–1922) – the wife of a governor who supported gardens in Australia.
- Lady Dorothy Stanley – a plant collector in India in the 20th century, probably after the cultivar had already originated.
Which of them, if any, was the true inspiration, or whether the name was chosen simply for its elegant sound without reference to a specific person, can no longer be determined. What is certain is that the name reflects the aesthetic of its era and lends the cultivar a gently nostalgic, aristocratic character.
Last update 31-12-2007; 22-06-2026
Regular pruning of Rose-of-Sharon is not ideal, because the plants naturally form attractive shrubs when grown in sufficiently moist soil. Nevertheless, many growers recommend annual pruning to obtain larger flowers. The drawback is that radically shortened shrubs bloom later, and some cultivars produce rather soft new shoots that may bend. The only pruning I recommend is reducing an already large, mature shrub, always in early spring before budbreak, and you can cut it back by up to 80%.
As for soil type, hibiscus is fairly undemanding. Only older plants dislike peat when being repotted. The soil must in any case be reasonably well‑drained, moderately fertile but not over‑fertilised. They love water, so as long as you make sure that newly planted specimens do not drown, you can place them even where they will have a good chance to drink well during the growing season. To improve flower set and flower size, you may use selective phosphorus‑based fertilisers (for flower formation), but it is not necessary. Place it in full sun — it requires strong, direct exposure. Like most summer‑flowering shrubs it leafs out rather late, so there is no need for concern if the plant shows no signs of life even in April. Fully hardy to at least –27 °C, and likely tolerates even stronger frost. Not suitable for containers.
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- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
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- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
