If you’re looking to turn heads and stop traffic in your garden, Rose of Sharon is your secret weapon. With blooms that burst like fireworks and colors that run the gamut from soft pastels to bold purples, these hibiscus shrubs are anything but ordinary.
Explore 14 standout varieties—plus a few bonus picks—that will have your garden stealing the spotlight all season long.
1. Blue Satin
Blue Satin produces stunning blue-purple flowers that stand out dramatically in any garden setting. The vibrant blooms appear from midsummer until fall, creating a long-lasting display when other plants have finished flowering.
Unlike many other varieties, Blue Satin rarely produces seeds, so you won’t have to worry about unwanted seedlings popping up throughout your yard. This tidy habit makes it perfect for formal gardens or areas where you want a controlled look.
2. Pink Chiffon
Delicate pink petals with a frilly, lacy appearance make Pink Chiffon a favorite among gardeners looking for a softer touch in their landscape. The double flowers resemble fluffy pink clouds when the shrub is in full bloom during summer months.
Growing to about 8-12 feet tall, this variety creates an excellent flowering hedge or privacy screen. Many gardeners appreciate its relatively compact growth habit compared to some other Rose of Sharon types, making it suitable for smaller yards.
3. Red Heart
Striking white flowers with bold red centers create a dramatic contrast that catches everyone’s eye. Red Heart blooms profusely from midsummer into fall, with each flower lasting several days before gracefully dropping.
Butterflies and hummingbirds can’t resist the bright colors and nectar-rich blooms. This variety grows into a vase-shaped shrub reaching 8-10 feet tall, making it perfect for the back of flower beds or as a standalone focal point in your yard.
4. White Chiffon
Pure white double flowers give White Chiffon an elegant, bridal appearance that brightens any garden space. The pristine blooms stand out beautifully against the dark green foliage, creating a clean, sophisticated look.
Gardeners love this variety for moon gardens where white flowers glow in evening light. White Chiffon grows 8-12 feet tall with a spread of 4-6 feet, creating an impressive display when planted in groups or as a flowering hedge along property lines.
5. Lavender Chiffon
Soft lavender-colored double blooms with a hint of pink give Lavender Chiffon a romantic, cottage garden feel. The ruffled petals create a full, almost rose-like appearance that adds texture to your landscape.
Growing 8-12 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide, this variety makes an excellent specimen plant or flowering hedge. Lavender Chiffon is particularly striking when planted alongside white or pink varieties, creating a beautiful color gradient in your garden design.
6. Sugar Tip
Variegated cream and green leaves set Sugar Tip apart from other Rose of Sharon varieties, providing visual interest even when not in bloom. The pink double flowers that appear in summer create a beautiful contrast against the unique foliage.
Smaller than many other varieties, Sugar Tip typically reaches just 5-6 feet tall, making it perfect for container gardening or smaller spaces. As an added bonus, this variety produces very few seeds, reducing the chance of unwanted seedlings throughout your garden.
7. Purple Pillar
Unlike traditional bushy Rose of Sharon plants, Purple Pillar grows in a narrow, columnar shape that’s perfect for tight spaces. Reaching 10-16 feet tall but staying just 2-3 feet wide, it fits beautifully alongside driveways or in narrow garden beds.
The semi-double purple flowers with red centers bloom profusely from top to bottom, creating a tower of color. Many gardeners use Purple Pillar as a space-saving alternative to traditional hedges or as dramatic vertical accents in garden designs.
8. Lil’ Kim
Perfect for small gardens, Lil’ Kim grows just 3-4 feet tall and wide, making it one of the most compact Rose of Sharon varieties available. Don’t let the small size fool you—this dwarf variety produces an abundance of white flowers with striking red centers.
Container gardeners particularly love this variety for patios and decks. Its naturally neat, rounded shape requires minimal pruning to maintain, making it a low-maintenance option for busy gardeners who still want spectacular summer blooms.
9. Blue Bird
Large single flowers in a true blue-violet shade make Blue Bird stand out in any garden setting. Each bloom features a prominent red center that creates striking contrast against the blue petals and attracts butterflies from far and wide.
Blue Bird grows into a multi-stemmed shrub reaching 8-10 feet tall with an upright, vase-shaped habit. The flowers appear slightly later than some other varieties, extending the Rose of Sharon season in your garden and providing color when many other plants have finished blooming.
10. Minerva
Lavender-pink petals with deep red eye zones give Minerva flowers a dramatic, eye-catching appearance. The large, single blooms measure up to 4 inches across, creating an impressive display from July through September.
Minerva grows into a multi-stemmed shrub about 5-8 feet tall with a similar spread. Its slightly more compact size compared to some varieties makes it versatile for many garden situations, from mixed shrub borders to foundation plantings where summer color is desired.
11. Diana
Pure white flowers with slightly ruffled edges make Diana one of the most elegant Rose of Sharon varieties available. The bright white blooms stand out beautifully against the deep green foliage, creating a clean, classic look in the garden.
Growing 5-8 feet tall and wide, Diana forms a naturally rounded shrub that requires minimal shaping. Unlike some varieties, Diana produces very few seeds, making it a cleaner option that won’t self-seed throughout your garden.
12. Lucy
Vibrant magenta-pink flowers with darker veining create a bold statement in the summer garden. Lucy’s blooms are particularly large, often reaching 4-5 inches across, making them some of the most impressive in the Rose of Sharon family.
Growing 8-10 feet tall with an upright habit, Lucy makes an excellent specimen plant or flowering hedge. The bright color pairs beautifully with white varieties like Diana or Blue Satin for a striking color combination that will transform your garden in late summer.
13. Aphrodite
Large, ruffled pink flowers with a prominent red eye zone give Aphrodite a romantic, feminine appearance. The blooms are particularly abundant, often covering the shrub so completely that the foliage is barely visible during peak flowering.
Aphrodite typically grows 8-10 feet tall with a spread of 4-6 feet. Its upright, vase-shaped growth habit makes it perfect for the back of mixed borders or as a standalone specimen where its dramatic summer display can be fully appreciated.
14. Freedom
Semi-double flowers in a rich, saturated purple make Freedom a standout variety for gardeners who want bold color impact. The flowers appear in mid-summer and continue into fall, providing months of vibrant color. Freedom grows into a rounded shrub about 5-8 feet tall and wide.
The dense branching structure creates an excellent flowering hedge or privacy screen. Many gardeners appreciate its relatively compact size compared to some older varieties, making it suitable for today’s smaller garden spaces.
15. Helene
Crisp white petals with a burgundy-red throat create a striking contrast that makes Helene instantly recognizable. The flowers have a slightly cupped shape that shows off the colorful centers perfectly. Growing to about 4-5 feet tall and wide, Helene is more compact than many other varieties.
This smaller size makes it perfect for foundation plantings or mixed shrub borders where its late summer flowers add welcome color when many other plants have finished blooming.
16. Bali
Double flowers in a soft pink shade give Bali a romantic, almost rose-like appearance that adds elegance to any garden setting. The ruffled petals create flowers that look like miniature peonies covering the shrub from midsummer until fall. Bali typically grows 5-8 feet tall and wide, forming a naturally rounded shape.
The soft pink color blends beautifully with other garden plants, making it easier to incorporate into existing landscapes than some of the more boldly colored varieties.
17. Fiji
Bright blue-violet flowers with prominent red centers make Fiji a showstopper in the summer garden. The large, single blooms measure up to 4 inches across and appear in abundance from July through September. Fiji grows into a multi-stemmed shrub about 6-8 feet tall with a similar spread.
Its upright habit makes it perfect for the back of borders or as a flowering hedge. Gardeners particularly love how the vibrant flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds throughout the blooming season.
18. Tahiti
Semi-double flowers in a rich, saturated blue-purple with a red center make Tahiti one of the most dramatic Rose of Sharon varieties. The abundant blooms appear from midsummer until fall, creating months of spectacular color.
Growing 7-10 feet tall with an upright, vase-shaped habit, Tahiti makes an excellent specimen plant or flowering hedge. The dark green foliage provides a perfect backdrop for the vibrant flowers, enhancing their visual impact in the garden landscape.
19. Hawaii
Bold, single blue flowers with a prominent red eye zone give Hawaii tropical flair despite being a hardy shrub. The flowers are particularly large, often reaching 4-5 inches across, creating dramatic impact in the summer garden.
Hawaii grows into a multi-stemmed shrub about 8-10 feet tall with an upright habit. Its size and vertical growth make it perfect for creating privacy screens or as a backdrop for shorter perennials and annuals. The flowers appear slightly later than some varieties, extending the Rose of Sharon season.
20. Purple Satin
Rich purple flowers with subtle red throats make Purple Satin a favorite for gardeners who want deep, saturated color. The large, single blooms create a dramatic display against the dark green foliage from midsummer until fall.
Purple Satin grows into a vase-shaped shrub about 8-10 feet tall with a spread of 4-6 feet. Like its relative Blue Satin, this variety produces few if any viable seeds, eliminating concerns about unwanted seedlings appearing throughout your garden.