One of the most beautiful summer blooming shrubs is the Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus). Also called Althea, it actually isn’t a rose at all, but rather a hardy deciduous type of hibiscus. From June until mid-autumn it produces large, colorful blooms in shades including blue, pink, purple, red and white. It blooms so prolifically it's no wonder it is the national flower of Korea and prized throughout the world.

Left alone, it grows into a natural vase shaped shrub or tree 6-12 ft. tall and half as wide, but with a small amount of pruning each season, can easily be shaped into a rounded shrub or tree. Its leaves don’t come out until late spring, causing false alarms in gardeners who think their plants may have died.

But make no mistake about it, the Rose of Sharon is one hardy plant, capable of handling temperatures as low as -10 once it has been established a few years. Lush green foliage provides the perfect backdrop for the blooms which may be single or double by nature. Many of the blooms come in a combination of colors so bright they are a perfect magnet for butterflies and hummingbirds.

Roses of Sharon are fairly easy to take care of. They prefer full sun locations but also do well in partial shade. They are fairly fast growing and do enjoy regular watering and fertilizing throughout the growing season. In cold climates, all that is needed is to add a layer of mulch over the roots the first two winters; after that no protection is necessary.