Rose of Sharon Althea (Hibiscus syriacus)

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Althea is a deciduous plant. It has a summer flowering period in which it bears pleasing hollyhock flowers well into the fall. This is a vigorous, upright growing deciduous vase-shaped shrub which can be either left to grow in multi-stemmed shape or thinned to a single stem small tree. Leaves are three-lobed, medium green in color with a coarse texture. From early summer through the fall it bears very showy hollyhock-like-petaled flowers which can be three inches in diameter. Flowers vary in color but are often pink with red centers. A notable white stamen forms in the center of the flower.