You might think that you know the beautiful Rose of Sharon. You might even consider yourself an aficionado of tropical flowers and lush foliage! But when you’ve met the newest star in the Rose of Sharon world, you’ll feel like you don’t know anything! French Cabaret™ Blush blooms profusely from July to October with double flowers in large pom-poms that look for all the world like the petticoats of French can-can dancers.
Introducing First Editions® French Cabaret™ Blush Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus ‘Mindoub 1’) is the first in a series of thickly ruffled double-flowered Althea from French breeder Corinne Liquiere at Minier Nursery in France. Trust us – if its pedigree doesn’t impress you, then its flowers will. The dark pink flower buds open like huge double carnations in a delicate blush pink with shades of white mixed in like masterful paint strokes.
As if that weren’t enough, the flowers are sterile, which means they produce no seed. What does that mean to you? It means that French Cabaret™ Blush puts all of its efforts into producing tons of amazing flowers for you all season long without spending energy on producing seeds. Hardy and low maintenance throughout USDA growing zones 5 to 8, these shrubs can grow up to 8 feet tall and spread nearly as wide at around 6-7 feet. The rounded form will be completely smothered in blooms from summer until fall!
Planting and Application:
Rose of Sharon as a magnificent front yard accent, or groupings for a fantastic privacy screen and outdoor “room divider” in a small space garden. Carve out a private spot on the far side for outdoor yoga, or a lovely getaway reading nook. Repeat them along the back of your Butterfly Gardens or mixed borders.
Live large in your special outdoor haven with a beautiful layer of pure romance in the background. Drape your entertainment area with these outstanding blooms or use several of them to add height to a chain link fence. Your neighbor will be thrilled, too! For a solid hedge that fills in quickly, plant them three feet apart on center. Measure from the center of one to the center of the next.
Float one or more blooms in a shallow dish of water with a floating candle for the look of a luau. Or harvest laden armloads of the slender stems to fill tall vases placed along the top of your outdoor bistro table.
Turn your sunny side yard into a soothing private retreat with their help along your property line! Squeeze every drop of value from your investment in real estate. French Cabaret™ Althea also looks incredible as an anchor plant at the corner of a garage or garden shed. It works beautifully with nearly any style of architecture, too.
- Double Carnation-Like Barely Blush Pink Blooms
- Prolific & Free Flowering
- Flower Power from Mid-Summer To Fall
- Butterflies, Hummingbirds & Pollinators Favorite
- Wonderful Cut Flowers, Large Containers & Flowering Privacy Screen
Tips for Care:
Related to Tropical and Hardy Hibiscus, Rose of Sharon (also known as Althea) are just as tropical looking, easy to care for, and resilient! Easy to grow in any average soil – even very dry or very alkaline – Rose of Sharon will change the way you see this wonderful group of shrubs!
Altheas performs well in almost any soil, except if it’s too dry or too wet. This easy-care plant is a perfect choice, whether you are a beginner or have years of landscaping experience. Rose of Sharon loves sunshine! Plant it in a spot where they will get at least six hours of sunlight a day. Provide a moderate amount of water on a regular basis. Use a three-inch layer of arborist mulch over the top of the root system to keep them nice and cool. Apply a slow-release fertilizer designed for flowering plants at the same time. Follow application rates on the label.
This pretty shrub blooms on new wood, so prune Althea in early spring to either shape or control the height. You’ll have flowers later that season, no matter how tightly you trim them in spring. You can even train these shrubs into multi or single-stemmed tree forms! Renewal prune every 3-5 years to maintain vigor.
- Full Sun
- Moderate Moisture & Enriched Well-Drained Soil
- Rugged, Cold Hardy & Heat Tolerant
- Vigorous & Very Low Maintenance
- Deer Resistant & Salt Tolerant
The First Editions® French Cabaret™ Blush Rose of Sharon will add a new dimension to your garden with its blushed blooms and easy-to-grow nature!
