"Nah, limiting the statement to Alabama wouldn't make it any more true." I wasn't. I'm from OH, where the convention is the same. Also assumed you'd seen Rhizo around enough to know she's lived in several 'east' states, but that's my bad, sorry. Regardless, the whole discussion is a perfect example of the uselessness of common names. Handy for when ID is already established, but discussing the 'proper' common name for anything is really just an exercise in curiosity, there is no right or wrong, as you well know. Many people name their plants Steve or Betty... or Audrey. Not sure why you insist on picking the gnat poo out of this pepper pile. Flora, that's the prettiest one I've ever seen! Wow! My aunt had some of these trees in central Indiana, with white petals, red centers, but it was nowhere near as pretty as that, with the 'streaking' detail. I dug up a few of the little ones (can't imagine doing that NOW - they were 4-6 ft. tall & filled the back of the minivan) and they survived and did well in my yard and Mom's yard in central OH, same latitude from which they came. The one was about 15 feet tall when I moved from that house. What I thought was so cool about those particular ones was that it was so reliable about opening its' first flowers within a day or two of July 4th, we called it Independence tree. The British may not appreciate such, but we thought it was neat-o. This pic is from 8/14/01, sorry it's not great. 1MP camera in those days.

Thanks for your research. I must admit that the one I saw actually had zone 5 written on it. Funny how they don't specify Canadian zone 5 or USDA, especially when so much stock sold here is shipped up from the states. Makes you wonder why they would bother to stock something like that at my local Canadian Tire, and Loblaws. I guess they haven't figured out the zone thing themselves. On the experimental side I have actually overwintered a Hibiscus Syriacus Blue Bird for about 10 years, but then one year at the height of 7 feet tall she died. I'm sure Blue Bird is a Canadian zone 6, possibly 7. Although I'm trying babies from the Blue Bird only one has overwintered two winters (so far) and so that is why I'm looking for a hibiscus that is more hardy in a purple, but with that kind of height. So, Lavender Chiffon likely isn't any more hardy than Blue Bird. I'll have to see how lucky I feel when I see it marked down. Mary

Here's some info I saved from this forum in 2005. Note that I'm the original poster (!). Too funny. ======================= Rose of Sharon (Althea) Posted by Love_the_Yard z9A Jax FL (My Page) on Sun, Aug 21, 05 at 23:26 Ambersky, Where did you plant your new double pink Rose of Sharon (althea)? I too bought one last week - also a double pink. The tag says "full to part sun". I've noticed a few posts that say they struggle with the heat here in Florida. I'm thinking about part shade. (It's on the screened-in porch in the shade righ now and actually seems pretty happy - haha!) What did you do? Carol Follow-Up Postings: RE: Rose of Sharon (Althea) Posted by: claferg z9a Volusia FL (My Page) on Mon, Aug 22, 05 at 10:42 My experience with Rose Of Sharon is part shade, or morning sun and afternoon shade. They seem to do very nicely in these situations. I have a single white, a double white and two single purples and they are doing great. I think the mistake most people who are unfamiliar with Rose of Sharon make is planting them in full sun like a hibiscus. Up north this is no problem, but here in Florida they really suffer during the hot months in full sun. RE: Rose of Sharon (Althea) Posted by: SnickerKitten Z9b FL (My Page) on Mon, Aug 22, 05 at 20:21 Mine gets sunlight filtered by some larger plants. She's come back from being a stick with a few yellow leaves to being full of lush dark green leaves and at last count, 2 blooms and 15 buds! Lori RE: Rose of Sharon (Althea) Posted by: SnickerKitten Z9b FL (My Page) on Wed, Aug 24, 05 at 14:41 Make that six absolutely gorgeous blooms! Lori RE: Rose of Sharon (Althea) Posted by: mistiaggie z10 FL (My Page) on Mon, Sep 12, 05 at 15:54 I have some "sticks" from cuttings that I've had for a year and they put out little bitty leaves and that's it. no new growth....maybe it's too hot here? RE: Rose of Sharon (Althea) Posted by: bruggirl100 z9 FL (My Page) on Mon, Sep 12, 05 at 19:15 I have one that has done absolutely nothing in 4 years. I think it's too hot, but then, I have it in full sun.

Thanks both for your help:-) Sunnytop; I didn`t water very much after planting it last autumn, I thought I couldn`t water that late. Then I will try that the next time. Watergal; the soil seemed fine when I planted but I mixed in some soil I bought. Now this year I have seen the soil maybe isn`t well draining. I planted it near a south/westfacing part of my foundation, so it received a lot of sun at least. I will definitely try to plant a rose of sharon again, at least since it seems to be a possibility that it can survive. Then I will try to water it well before winter and make a bed with well draining soil.