Question
QUESTION: i have had a plant in my garden 20 years, i cut it to the ground after every frost and it grows back in the spring no matter how cold the winter. it has as many as ten stalks that are tightly clumped and they grow straight up to 10-12ft with large pink flowers that fall off every day and grow right back to 3-6". the core is very woody with a light grey thin bark. i am trying to specifically identify this species so that i can plant several thousands acres for an industrial application. the growing time is less than 3 months. some terms that help: kenaf/hardy-hybiscus/rose of sharonETC...........

HELP HELP

ANSWER: Hi Cecil,
Thanx for your question.  You didn't indicate where you lived but you said it was cold in the winter so I'm going to assume you get regular freezes that cause this plant to die down.  Generally, a Rose-of-Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus is hardy to zone 5.  I don't know if they will survive in zone 4.  They might just die down to the ground and resprout every year.  In zone 5/6, where I am, the Rose-of-Sharon, will grow into a small, shrubby tree up to 12 feet tall and with varying sizes of trunks which are generally smooth and gray.  This plant does not die down to the ground here  You may have hardy hibiscus, Hibiscus moscheutos hardy to zone 5, some say zone 4.  This plant does die back to the ground here every year and does not emerge until May.  It can have rather large, woody stems as you described.  Both of these plants are easily started from seeds.  The seedlings generally emerge in 7-21 days depending on how warm the environment is.  Often, they will bloom the first year too.  If you start the seed now, you should be able to get some blooming plants by August.  Here is a link to some pics.

Hibiscus moscheutos - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&cp=11&gs_id=v&xhr=t&q=hibiscus+moscheutos&gs_

Hibiscus syriacus - http://www.google.com/search?pq=hibiscus+moscheutos&hl=en&cp=13&gs_id=d&xhr=t&q=

I hope this helps.  If you have trouble with the links (just cut and paste into your browser), Google the botanical names and click on Images.  I hope this helps.
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Is there a cultivar of Kenaf that more closely resembles a small tree and less like a bush?

Answer
Hi Cecil,
Thanx for the follow up.  My expertise really isn't agricultural so I regret that I may not be able to provide you with exactly the answers for which you are searching.  I have several suggestions however.
First, here is a link to a site you might find helpful regarding your kenaf.

http://www.kenaftech.com/

The second suggestion I have is to contact your local County Extension Agent.  S/he is affiliated with the state agricultural school and they are there to provide you with mostly free agricultural advice and consultation.  If you will give my your general location, I can get you a contact.

I hope this helps.
Tom