Rose of Sharon is a low shrub, extensively creeping over the ground, with a height of up to 40 cm. Leaves are in opposite pairs on a fleshy reddish stem. The leaves are green, ovate, sessile to 4 cm long. The flowers are solitary at the end of each stem, bright yellow with 5 spreading petals, each up to 4 cm, with numerous yellow stamens.

The plant was introduced from Turkey and Bulgaria as a garden plant, but has naturalized locally in Victoria east of Melbourne and in Tasmania.

The foliage is food for some Caterpillars, for example :

St. John's Wort Inchworm ( Aplocera plagiata, GEOMETRIDAE )

Link to FAQs about Caterpillars

Australian butterflies Australian caterpillars Australian moths

Link to Flowers in Australia

(updated 5 January 2010)