hardy hibiscus
The following thread was started by johnny rogers sr. on August 22, 2007 at 7:04 pm PST
is a nice plant with large, pretty flowers and it is quite hardy here. Can grow from cuttings as well.
Several mallows are related including the original marshmallow and they all have edible leaves.
JOhn S
PDX OR
The above followup was added by John S on August 23, 2007 at 8:30 am PST.
I would guess that the glossy leaves are a result of being from the tropics. Glossy leaves probably stand up to sun and heat better.
Hibiscus are mostly tropical, but there are quite a few non-tropicals hardy here. Rose-of-Sharon is Hibiscus syriacus. It is actually a native of China, but arrived via the Middle East and was assumed to be "Syrian".
It does have the interesting characteristic of coming in purple among other colors.
I have two different hardy Hibiscus in my yard: a hybrid of (H. moscheutos x (H. moscheutos x H. coccinea)) x H. grandiflora, and H. sinosyriacus, which is a bushier species with softer wood than that of H. syriacus. It has larger, more lobed leaves, and slightly larger flowers.
There are a fair number of semi-woody species native to the southeastern USA which are hardyish here. There is also H. mutabilis from China, that is hardy here.
The above followup was added by Rob Wagner on August 24, 2007 at 3:42 pm PST.
Here is a hardy hibiscus that 's blooming in my garden today
The above followup was added by ivan on August 28, 2007 at 4:34 am PST.