Hibiscus 'Sugar Tip': Variegated Foliage + Ruffled Blooms = Year-Round Star

Rose of Sharon often disappoints out of bloom — just a green shrub. Hibiscus syriacus 'Sugar Tip' rewrites the script: creamy-white variegated foliage stays clean and handsome all season, while ruffled double pink flowers (each bud frosted with tiny white hairs like coarse sugar) open from deep pink to pale, creating a multihued cascade from spring to fall.

Le jardinet

Quick Facts

• Botanical name: Hibiscus syriacus 'Sugar Tip'
• Common names: Sugar Tip rose of Sharon, Sugar Tip hibiscus
• Origin: Species native to Asia; 'Sugar Tip' is a garden hybrid
• Hardiness: -20°F (USDA zones 5–8)
• Water: Average
• Light: Full sun
• Size: 8–12 ft tall, 4–6 ft wide
• Tolerances: Most soils except extreme wet/dry; deer resistant; attracts butterflies/hummingbirds; non-invasive

Le jardinet

Distinguishing Traits

• Variegated foliage (soft green + creamy white)
• Ruffled double pink flowers
• Abundant, long-season bloom
• Smaller than older varieties

Le jardinet

Design Uses

Upright habit suits containers (underplant with pink million bells + silver falls dichondra for a feminine look) or as a landscape specimen in mixed borders. Spaced 6 ft apart, it makes a lovely hedge.

Le jardinet

Care Notes

• Blooms on new wood — prune early spring before growth starts; can prune hard to control size.
• Slow-release tree/shrub fertilizer in early spring.
• Occasional compost tea (e.g., Moo-Poo) in summer.

Available at many nurseries and via Proven Winners.

More: 6 New Plant Varieties That Beat Out Their Parents