Hibiscus plants are great for a garden. That is why gardeners prefer these exotic plants. They cause the garden to flourish with beautiful flowers.
But the different species are confusing for gardeners. It needs to be clarified whether the Hibiscus is the same as the Rose of Sharon.
Both the Rose of Sharon and the Hibiscus are of the Mallow family. They have a sensual tropical look. They produce beautiful flowers with a variety of colors.
They are considered close relatives. But there are some notable physical differences.
Physical features of hibiscus and Rose of Sharon
One way of differentiating the Rose of Sharon and the Hibiscus is the physical features. The Rose of Sharon grows much taller.
It produces white flowers with a red center. The Hibiscus comes in two different forms. They include the hardy and the tropical Hibiscus.
The hardy Hibiscus is known for its large flowers, like dinner plates. The tropical Hibiscus has smaller flowers but is also colorful. They produce flowers that are of yellow or orange color.
In this article, let us break down the similarities and differences of each plant. We also look into what to expect from these stunning.
Difference #1: Where they originate
A key difference between the Rose of Sharon and the Hibiscus is where they originate. The Hibiscus is known to be of Chinese origin.
It is believed that the main origin was in southern Asia. It has been grown for centuries from the red-flowering shrub.
The rose-of-Sharon is known to originate from subtropical regions of China. This is because it does well in temperate climates. It is considered as an ornamental shrub in China. It was very popular along the trade routes in different parts of Asia.
Difference #2: The differences in growth
There is also a difference in how the Rose of Sharon and the Hibiscus grow. The Hibiscus is known to grow from 3 to 10 feet tall. They are seen to grow as upright ovals.
This is different from the Rose-of-Sharon plants, which are more erect. They also grow 5 to 14 feet tall. The Rose-of-Sharon is also considered to grow wider than the Hibiscus.
Difference #3: Differences in foliage
It is also good to differentiate the two plants on foliage. The Hibiscus is known for its evergreen foliage. It has large green leaves with blade-like shapes.
Their leaves are about 6 inches long when mature. Other varieties can have even longer leaves.
The leaves of Rose-of-Sharon vary in shape. They are considered to be winter-deciduous. The leaf varieties include diamond-shaped, triangular, and ovals.
The leaves are also smaller, with three shallow lobes. The leaves of a mature Rose-of-Sharon are 4 inches long.
Difference #4: Differences in flowering
The flowering of the Rose of Sharon and the Hibiscus is also different. The hibiscus flowers all year round. They only require warm weather to bloom.
Its flowers have five petals spreading wide. The plant has solitary blossoms growing from the tips of the branches.
The Rose-of-Sharon flowering is different. Their flowers blossom well during midsummer and mid-fall. Their flowers are of a trumpet shape. They eventually spread and opened wide.
The flowers grow well when sun-exposed. Their flowers have a dark shade of pink or red. The significant similarity is that the flowers of both plants bloom very quickly.
Difference #5: Differences in plant hardiness
The element of hardiness also plays a part in differentiating the Rose of Sharon from the Hibiscus. The Rose of Sharon is considered hardier than the Hibiscus.
They can withstand severe weather, including winter conditions. They are also considered low maintenance flowers.
The Rose of Sharon survives very well in temperate-zone gardens. The Hibiscus prefers tropical gardens for faster blooming. The Hibiscus is easily damaged by extremely cold weather. They rot faster than the Rose of Sharon in such weather.
What the Rose of Sharon and the Hibiscus have in common?
Similarities in family/origin
Both the Rose of Sharon and the Hibiscus come from the same family of plants. They are considered cousins in the plant family. They also come from the Asian region. But they originate in different parts of the region with different weather.
Similarities in flowering
A significant similarity is with the flowering. These plants bloom quickly and have attractive flowers. The flowers look almost similar but are differentiated by colors. They also have wide leaves that grow longer when mature.
There is also the element of when these plants flourish. It is considered that these plants require full sun. Their blooming is dependent on the duration of exposure to the sun. These plants also do well in properly drained soils.
Similarities in needed care
The Rose of Sharon and the Hibiscus also work well when fed often. Experts suggest the need to improve soil quality when planting these plants.
The soil should also be well-aerated and free of any pests. This is because pests easily damage the Rose of Sharon and the Hibiscus.
The Rose of Sharon and the Hibiscus also require regular watering, especially when flowering. These plants also require pruning. The experts advise doing it in the early spring. The pruning is considered fit for the effective flowering of both plants.
Overall, there is not much difference between the Rose of Sharon and the Hibiscus. These are plants that come from the same family.
They are also plants that do well in the same environments and conditions. They provide gardeners with perfect flowers that are considered colorful and beautiful.
