I had Althea Hibiscus syriacus 'red heart' until last year and a white double variety that is blooming right now. I think the red heart was actually fairly hardy-I had it for 3 years-I just made the mistake of transplanting it to an exposed western location last year. I think the trick to growing them here is to have them in a full sun in a somewhat protected location. And to mulch them really well in late fall. They also don't like to be crowded too much-I've noticed that branches too close to other shrubs don't come back. Flowerwise-they do pretty much the same thing as hardy hisbiscus-the flowers look similar (at least red heart's did)-only smaller-and only last for one day.

The advantage of the rose of sharon is that there are a few more flowers (and different choice of colors) on stronger, woody stems vs hardy hibiscus, and their water requirements are somewhat less than hardy hibiscus. The disadvantage is that rose of sharon is less hardy than hardy hibiscus and is really slow to come back in the spring-so you basically have what looks like a dead shrub until the middle or end of may.

I was "gifted" with one the other day- It is 'Red Heart' if the GooGle images I saw were accurate.
Thanks for mentioning the bit about it wanting it's own "space"- and not to overcrowd it.
I may just have a space for it....

I love Rose of Sharon... wish I had a place for it!

Dinner sometime soon Julie?? Miss you!

-Marie