Winter care: we are into the colder months. Protect newly planted or tender specimens from hard frosts, and hold off planting out until the frost risk has passed.
Hibiscus syriacus 'Speciosus' is a showy, double-flowered form of the hardy Rose of Sharon, smothering itself in large, fully double white blooms, each lit by a flash of red at the centre, from late summer into early autumn. It brings a lush, almost tropical extravagance to the garden just as many shrubs are winding down, yet it is tough enough to shrug off a British winter.
Why gardeners love it
Big, double white flowers with a red eye, right through August and September
Fully hardy across the UK, no winter protection needed
Upright, bushy habit for borders or a large patio pot
A slow, steady grower, it forms a shapely shrub of around 2 to 3 m tall and 1.5 to 2 m across, earning a place as a flowering centrepiece in any exotic border or hardy exotic planting. Give it a warm, sheltered spot in full sun, ideally south or west-facing, in any moist but well-drained soil. It is happy too in a large container on a sunny patio. Prune lightly in early spring to keep an open framework, and be patient, as Rose of Sharon is one of the last shrubs to leaf up, often staying bare until well into May.
Every plant we send out is strong, well-rooted and hand-selected, ready to settle in and reward you with its exotic late-summer display for years to come.
Live Arrival Guarantee
All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.
Ordering in autumn or winter? Many hardy exotics arrive dormant or cut back right now. This is normal, and the best time to plant.
Seasonal by nature: what to expect
Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.
Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal.
Read what to expect through the seasons
Delivery and returns
See all delivery pricing tiers
Based on your basket total, confirmed at checkout. Free delivery: Economy over £60 · Standard over £100 · Express over £150.
Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.
Outdoor plants are sold by the size of their pot — measured in litres, with the pot diameter in cm.
A larger pot means a more established plant for quicker impact in the garden; a smaller pot is better value and
soon catches up once planted out.
9cm · 0.5L
Young plant
A young, vigorous plant and the most economical way to build up a planting. Give it a season or two and it will romp away.
~13cm · 1L
Starter
A well-rooted young plant, ready to grow on in a border or container. Great value for filling space over a season or two.
~15cm · 2L
Established
A bushier, more established plant with a developed root system — a dependable middle ground that suits most gardens.
~17cm · 3L
Garden ready
A strong, garden-ready plant that establishes quickly and makes a visible difference in its very first season.
~19cm · 5L
Instant impact
A larger, fuller specimen for immediate presence — ideal when you want the planted look straight away.
21cm+ · 7.5L+
Specimen
A mature, substantial specimen — the quickest route to an established, fully planted-up feel.
Pots that fit this plant
We recommend
How to care for Rose of Sharon 'Speciosus'
Plant me in full sun and I will stand a UK winter outdoors.
In their words
What our customers say
EP
Emily P.
Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.
JR
James R.
Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.
SL
Sophie L.
Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.
Get to know me
About Rose of Sharon 'Speciosus'
Hibiscus syriacus 'Speciosus' needs full sun and moist but well-drained soil. It is hardy to around −15°C and stands a UK winter outdoors.
Hardy Exotic (H5): down to around −15°C. Hardy through a cold UK winter.
Hardy deciduous shrub (RHS H5). Flowers on new wood — prune in late winter for the best blooms.Read moreShow less
Hardy deciduous shrub (RHS H5). Flowers on new wood — prune in late winter for the best blooms.
Position
Full sunSouth-facingWest-facingSheltered
Full sun for maximum flowering.Read moreShow less
Full sun for maximum flowering.
Soil
ChalkClayLoamSandMoist but well-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH
Fertile, well-drained soil.Read moreShow less
Fertile, well-drained soil.
Watering
Water while establishing and in dry summers. Large flowers July–September.Read moreShow less
Water while establishing and in dry summers. Large flowers July–September.
Mature size
Height2-3 m
Spread1.5-2 m
Reaches full size in 10-20 years
Growth habit
Bushy
Flowering
JFMAMJJASOND
Jul-Sep · White
Seasonal colour
SpringSummerAutumnWinterFlowerFoliageBerries
Foliage
Deciduous
Pruning
Flowers in late summer on the current season's growth. In early spring shorten last year's stems back to a low framework to encourage strong new shoots that will carry the flowers.
Toxicity
No reported toxicity to people or pets.
Native range
Garden origin (species native to China and India)
Family
Malvaceae
Also known as
Hibiscus syriacus 'Speciosus'
Genus
Hibiscus
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hibiscus syriacus hardy enough to survive a UK winter?
Yes. Unlike the tender tropical hibiscus, Rose of Sharon is a fully hardy deciduous shrub that withstands UK winters down to around -15C to -20C. It drops its leaves in autumn and reshoots in late spring, so don't worry if it looks bare and dormant well into May.
Does it need full sun or will it cope with shade?
Give it a sheltered spot in full sun for the best flowering. It will tolerate light, dappled shade, but bloom production drops noticeably and growth is leggier the less direct sun it gets. A warm south or west-facing position is ideal.
How big does Rose of Sharon get?
It is a slow-growing shrub that eventually reaches roughly 2-3m tall and 1.5-2m wide over many years. Its upright, bushy habit makes it easy to keep in scale, and it can be trained as a small multi-stemmed tree or kept compact with pruning.
Can I grow Hibiscus syriacus in a pot?
Yes, it grows well in a large container of at least 40-50cm using a loam-based compost such as John Innes No. 3. Keep it watered through summer when it is flowering, feed in the growing season, and top-dress or pot on every couple of years.
When and how should I prune it?
Prune in early to mid spring before growth resumes, as it flowers on the current season's wood. Lightly shorten the previous year's shoots and remove any dead, weak or crossing stems to keep an open, well-shaped framework and encourage strong flowering.
Are your plants treated with pesticides?
We aim to avoid using pesticides where possible, but we can't control the whole supply chain.
If the plant is going into a vivarium, terrarium or aquarium with live animals, rinse the leaves and roots well, remove any soil and let the plant dry out before adding it. We'd also suggest keeping it away from animals for a month first.
Can I see a photo of the exact plant I'll receive?
We're not able to send photos of individual plants or let you choose a specific one, as plants are selected by our team when your order is packed. Our photos show the variety and the kind of plant you can expect, and yours may vary a little in height, shape or fullness.
If a size has a code next to it, such as 9cm / B2, you're buying the exact plant pictured.
Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.
It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.
If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.
If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.
That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.
Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.
When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.
We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.
Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.
It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.
Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.
Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.
During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.
That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 7 days with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.
The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.
Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Perfect for Gifting
From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.
Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.
Sustainability at Heart
All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.
