Pink & White Hibiscus

You can find both Chinese hibiscus and rose of Sharon in pinks and whites.

Hibiscus is a genus of flowering shrubs known for their colorful blossoms. Among the hibiscus species, two are commonly planted in the United States: Hibiscus rosa-sinesis, also known as the Chinese hibiscus, and Hibisucs syriacus, commonly known as rose of Sharon or shrub althaea. You can find example of either species with flowers that are pink, white or a combination of the two colors. Between the two species, you can find a suitable plant for your garden, whether you live in the tropics or in a temperate climate.

Pink Chinese Hibiscus

The colors of Chinese hibiscus flowers include a wide range of pinks, from creamy pink to deep rose. For example, the Flamingo Plume cultivar has double blooms with an intense pink shade reminiscent of the brilliant bird. Kona is another option, if you're looking for bright pink color. The Peachblow has medium-sized flowers with a peach-pink shade. The Miami Lady is carmine pink that deepens to blood red at its throat.

White Chinese Hibiscus

Chinese hibiscus plants are not as common in white as in other more dramatic colors. Nonetheless, you may select from among several cultivars for a plant with brilliantly white blossoms. For small white flowers, opt for the White Dainty. Ruth Wilcox has slightly larger, more aromatic blossoms. For really large flowers, plant Elephant Ear; its color is slightly warmer, more ivory than white.

Pink Rose of Sharon

If you live in a cooler climate, the Hibiscus syriaca, or rose of Sharon, will suit your temperatures better than the Chinese hibiscus. For pink blooms, select the Aphrodite cultivar. Its petals are deep pink, darkening to red at the throat. The flowers are highly ruffled and quite large. For a pink flower with a tinge of purple, consider the Ardens, with double blooms.

White Rose of Sharon

For pure white flowers, consider the Diana, Jeanne d'Arc or Helene cultivars of the rose of Sharon. The Jeanne d'Arc cultivar has double flowers, with two layers of petals. Helene is highly ruffled and has a red spot at its throat, with delicate lines radiating outward along the midpetal veins.

Pink and White Combinations

To combine the look of white and pink flowers on a single hibiscus bush, it's possible to find species and cultivars with variegated blossoms including both colors. For example, the swamp rose mallow (Hibiscus grandiflorus) typically has petals that gradually change from pure white outer edges to a deep pink throat. The crimson-eyed rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) has a similar look, though slightly more pronounced. The petals are almost purely white, more abruptly shifting to deep pink at the flower's center. Flora plena (Hibiscus mutabilis) also fades from pink to white. Turn of the Century is a hybrid with mottled pink and white coloring.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension; Hibiscus in Florida; D. L. Ingram and L. Rabinowitz;
• University of Illinois Extension: Rose of Sharon, Shrub Althea
• United States National Arboretum; Hibiscus syriacus 'Aphrodite', 'Helene', and 'Minerva'; August 1999
• University of Florida IFAS Extension; Hibiscus in Florida; Hardy Hibiscus for Florida Landscapes; Gary W. Knox and Rick Schoellhorn