That plant is definitely etiolated -- light starved. "Direct sun" should be taken with a grain of salt. First, just in case you did not know, "direct sun" refers to sunlight shining directly on the plant as it would early in the morning streaming through an unobstructed east facing window. A very bright window in which the sunlight does not actually do so would not count. That would be considered "indirect lighting". Next, even in the case of direct sun there comes a whole range of intensities. Unfortunately, plant tags never make any such distinctions. Direct sun outside is more intense than direct sun indoors. Direct sun early in the morning or later in the evening is a completely different story from direct sun during the afternoon. (Afternoon sun is much stronger.) This is true both indoors and outside. Many indoor plants (dare I say "most"?) will do quite well with a little direct sun early in the morning or late in the evening. The stronger direct sun they might experience from around 10am to 4 or 5pm is where things often get too intense for shade lovers. In addition, one needs to consider one's latitude. The direct sun experienced by those close to the equator is very different from that of those in the far north of the northern hemisphere or far south of the southern hemisphere. To complicate matters even further, is the direct sun being discussed obstructed or unobstucted light. For example, if you have a west window with a large tree in front of said window then the direct sun that makes it through might only amount to "dappled shade" as the tree's leaves block much of the sunlight. In contrast, that same situation with no trees, buildings, window blinds, etc would experience far different (much more intense) lighting. Is your head spinning yet? So the upshot is you must look to your plant to tell you what it needs. In this case, your plant showing distinct signs of being etiolated -- weak skinny growth with a great deal of space between leaf nodes. This is the result of insufficient lighting. Your plant is stretching in an attempt to reach a place of greater light. The segments of stem between each layer of leaves should be MUCH closer. This is, then, tells you that the plant wants more light than it is currently receiving ... no matter what its tag says. So DO move it to a bit brighter location if you can. If it continues 'stretching' then move it to an even brighter location. Repeat bit by bit until the plant is growing in a more compact manner. I hope that helped.

Yes, it is Rose of Sharon. Another name for it (besides the proper name of Hibiscus syriacus) is Althea. This was the name I always heard growing up, many years ago. I love them and have always acquired at least one everywhere I have lived. When I see a color I don't have, I always ask for seeds. They are easy to grow and very pretty, I think. You can prune them to any size you want, too, in early spring before they leaf out and bloom. Probably afterwards, too!

If you had small children who habitually ate plants in the yard, toxicity might be an issue... but then many plants are poisonous, probably including the lily you originally planted (at least many things in the lily family are poisonous). Tomatoes and rhubarb leaves are poisonous too, but most people don't worry about them. I'd say enjoy your plant. (As to how it got there, it probably came as a seed or weed in the pot you planted--I've had many pleasant surprises like that.)

Yes, bodiggly - that's it !!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Wow, you have a sharp eye. I've been trying for months to get the name of this. By the way, I meant to say "strappy " leaves, not stappy leaves. Sorry about that. Thanks so much for your help. Now I will wait to see its beautiful bloom.