Great Design Plant: Hibiscus Syriacus ‘Sugar Tip’
I’ve never been especially fond of hibiscus. The flowers are impressive, but when it’s not in bloom, hibiscus is just another green-leaved shrub that contributes little to the garden and certainly doesn’t merit a place in my containers. Hibiscus syriacus ‘Sugar Tip’ has completely changed all that.
The delicate, soft green and creamy-white variegated foliage is clean and healthy looking, while the abundant ruffled, double pink flowers are as pretty as a party dress. Each bud is covered in tiny white hairs, giving the appearance of being encrusted with coarse sugar granules. As the buds begin to open, they reveal a hint of deep pink. When fully open the flowers show off their layers of midpink before fading to a lighter shade, giving the whole bush a multihued effect. How could you possibly resist?
Botanical name: Hibiscus syriacus ‘Sugar Tip’
Common names: Sugar Tip rose of Sharon, Sugar Tip hibiscus
Origin: This species is native to Asia (not Syria, as one might expect), but Sugar Tip is a garden hybrid.
Where it will grow: Hardy to -20 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zones 5 to 8; find your zone)
Water requirement: Average
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 8 to 12 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide
Benefits and tolerances: Tolerant of most soil types except very dry or very wet soil; deer resistant; attracts butterflies and hummingbirds; noninvasive
Seasonal interest: Spring to fall
When to plant: Spring or fall
Distinguishing traits:
Variegated foliageRuffled pink flowersAbundant bloomsSmaller than many older varieties
How to use it. The upright growth habit lends well to containers as a large shrub or small tree. In a big pot, it could be underplanted with soft pink million bells and silver falls (Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’) for a feminine look.
Sugar Tip would also make an attractive specimen plant in the landscape, in a mixed border of perennials and shrubs or even as a hedge if spaced 6 feet or so apart.
Planting notes. Hibiscus blooms on new wood, so do any pruning in early spring before the new growth begins. It can be pruned hard to keep it smaller.
Use a slow-release fertilizer for trees and shrubs in early spring. I also watered mine with Moo-Poo tea two or three times during the summer.
Where to buy. Many nurseries carry Sugar Tip; it can also be ordered from Proven Winners.
More: 6 New Plant Varieties That Beat Out Their Parents
