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Shrubs

Hibiscus syriacus 'Souvenir de Charles Breton'

This beautiful semi-double variety grows up to about 2 metres and bears large, lilac-pink to purple flowers with red sunbursts at the throat. The dark green leaves are three-lobed, have toothed edges and turn yellow in the autumn. With the right conditions expect abundant flowers from July until October.

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral, Alkaline

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Malvaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, Columnar upright
Genus: Hibiscus can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs, trees, annuals or perennials, with simple or palmately lobed leaves and large, funnel-shaped flowers over a long flowering season
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows best in neutral to slightly acidic or slightly alkaline, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. Plant in a warm sheltered position in full sun to encourage flowering. Can also be grown in pots. Feed in spring, with a slow-release, high potash formula, such as rose food, and mulch in autumn to help maintain soil moisture levels and suppress weeds.

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in late spring, by semi-ripe cuttings in summer, or by layering in spring or autumn.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Patio and container plants
Wall side borders

Pruning

Very little pruning required, especially in the first three years. After three years prune annually after flowering to maintain its shape and to help ensure the outer branches don't fall outwards - pruning group 1.

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, scale insects, mealybugs and glasshouse whitefly when grown under glass

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely) and powdery mildews

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