Althea is another plant native to China that does well over a wide range of North America in Zones 5-9.
Lady Bug is a new semi-dwarf cultivar that grows slowly in a dense, broadly upright form and at maturity may reach a height of 6 to 8 feet. Lady Bug produces large quantities of flowers over six to eight weeks or more where conditions are favorable. The 3.5- to 4-inch flowers begin as large buds with sepals covering developing flower petals. As the petals extend above the sepals, distinct bright red blotches develop on the exposed petals. But fully opened flowers are entirely a soft pink, since the red blotches are now on the backs of the outside row of petals. Lady Bug is sterile, and as a result flowers remain showy for about 2.5 days with no seeds. Foliage remains green throughout the growing season.
Lady Bug is easy to propagate from softwood cuttings and flowers well, even in a 1-gallon container. Typical flowers of althea cultivars or seedlings open in the morning and begin to become less attractive or drop by late afternoon after being pollinated. By contrast, Lady Bug flowers open in morning, stay attractive the full day and do not fall until the next afternoon, creating a great flower show during evening hours. During 28 years of breeding althea at Lacebark, no disease or insect problems have been observed. Lady Bug grows well in most soils, even where drainage is marginal. Since althea flowers on new growth, the more growth equals more flowers. This is also advantageous in that if the top is killed by cold or some other hazard, or the plant gets too large, simply cut off the top and with the resumption of new growth in spring and flowering will progress normally.
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Source: Lacebark Inc.