A Reliable True-Blue Garden Performer

The dramatic flowers on Blue Bird Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus 'Blue Bird') have to be seen to be believed. Your neighbors are sure to think you've spray-painted them, because they simply don't look real! Although it was introduced in 1958, Blue Bird Hibiscus is still considered the industry standard among blue-flowering hibiscus shrubs. But don't take our word for it -- because of its enduring qualities and longstanding performance, Blue Bird Hibiscus is a recipient of the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

A Closer Look
Although it looks like a tropical plant more suited to warm climates, Blue Bird is a cold-hardy perennial that can withstand sub-zero winter temperatures in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.

• Riveting red-eyed flowers.As if the boisterous blue color of its flowers doesn't provide enough eye candy for your garden, each Blue Bird Althea blossom is accented with a flaming-red center!

• Spectacular specimen plant. In the landscape-design world, a "specimen plant" is one that provides a focal point because of its uncommon or outstanding characteristics -- two criteria that Blue Bird Rose of Sharon certainly fulfills!

• Floriferous full-sun hedge. One shrub commands attention, but a row of these shrubs provides a riot of color in summer.

Pick your Favorite Name
You may recognize this Perennial Hibiscus by its other common names -- Shrub Althea or Rose-of-Sharon. Long-time gardeners have a special fondness for this long-lived heirloom, which has historically been a mainstay on old homesteads and in cottage gardens. So if you have a tendency toward nostalgia, or if you're irresistibly drawn to the sumptuous color of Blue Bird Hibiscus flowers, you'll want to put this plant on your must-have list!