Question
I have a friend who has a plant she calls althea. I'm trying to discover if it really is an althea. It is either a cutting or the original shrub from her grandmother's yard. We live in Houston, TX.

I'm taking cuttings of it, and began researching it online. Online it's been called Rose of Sharon and Hibiscus Syriacus. Pictures show 4 (o 5?) petals in a flat pattern.

Though the leaves of her althea resemble those of my hibiscus plants (but the althea leaves are smaller), the flowers do not look like the flowers I've found online in pics. She has a light pink one which has many petals, resembling a carnation somewhat. She also has one that is colored purplish/fuschia.

I have pics of the cuttings (with blooms and leaves) I can send you if this will help. Could this be an althea but a variety that I haven't found pics of online yet?

I just like to know what I'm planting!

Answer
Hi Pat,
Thanx for your question.  It sounds like a hybrid althea to me.  Usually, althea refers to the Rose of Sharon or Hibiscus syriacus as you mentioned however there are many cultivars now and many are double and triple petaled plants.  Althea are related to the hibiscus because they are all out of the same genus.  Also they are related to Okra.  I hope this helps.
Tom