Originally from Asia, 'Sanchoyo' produces deep pink, Peony-like flowers that stand out from the crowd. Its show of abundant, exotic flowers is impressive from midsummer well into fall, a time when few shrubs offer large flowers. Pruning in early spring will yield a more vigorous and floriferous specimen.

If you're the type who goes for minuscule flowers, then Hibiscus is not a genus for you. The plants produce big bright flowers that appear endlessly starting in high summer. The genus includes a diverse bunch of annuals, perennials, and shrubs, both tender and hardy. Our interest is in the hardy shrubby type, commonly known as Rose of Sharon. Plants are upright growing and compact, with handsome notched leaves. New selections have larger, fuller flowers in a wider range of colors. They flourish in sunny situations in a well-drained soil.