Definition

1. Noun:
   • A flowering shrub: "rose of sharon" refers to an Asiatic shrub or small shrubby tree. It is known for its showy, bell-shaped flowers which can be rose, purple, or white in color. Its leaves are usually three-lobed. This plant is widely cultivated in temperate regions of North America and Europe.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The garden's centerpiece was a beautiful rose of sharon in full bloom.
  • She planted a rose of sharon by the fence for summer color.

Advanced Usage

• Horticultural Context: The term is used specifically in gardening and horticulture to identify this particular species (). It is valued for its late summer flowering period and hardiness.
  • For a low-maintenance shrub that blooms in August, consider the rose of sharon.

Variants and Related Words

• Hibiscus syriacus (n): The botanical Latin name for the rose of sharon.
  • Hibiscus syriacus is the scientific name for the common rose of sharon.
• Althea (n): Another common name for the same shrub.
  • The althea, or rose of sharon, is a popular landscape plant.

Synonyms

• Shrub althea: A synonym emphasizing its shrub form.
• Hardy hibiscus: A term highlighting its genus and cold tolerance.

Notes on Meaning

• Biblical Reference: The name is derived from a plant mentioned in the Song of Solomon in the Bible ("I am the rose of Sharon"). However, the modern horticultural plant () is not considered to be the original biblical plant, which is a point of historical and botanical discussion.
• Common Confusion: In some regions, especially North America, the name "rose of sharon" is also sometimes applied to other plants, such as (St. John's wort). The primary definition, however, refers to .

Noun

1. Asiatic shrub or small shrubby tree having showy bell-shaped rose or purple or white flowers and usually three-lobed leaves; widely cultivated in temperate North America and Europe