Hibiscus syriacus ‘Samilhong’: A Novel Korean Cultivar with Enhanced Ornamental Traits and International Intellectual Property Protection

The new Hibiscus syriacus cultivar 'Samilhong' was developed to address the growing demand for compact, refined ornamental shrubs suitable for contemporary urban landscapes and container cultivation.Through controlled hybridization and successive selection, 'Samilhong' consistently exhibits a stable dwarf and compact growth habit, dense branching, and a well-proportioned canopy throughout its developmental stages, differentiating it from the paternal parent and control cultivar, 'Samchulli.'At five years of age, 'Samilhong' has a significantly reduced height (122.0 5.7 cm) and a lower shape index (0.85 0.09), indicative of restrained vertical growth and enhanced manageability.With regard to its leaf morphology, 'Samilhong' is characterized by longer, narrower leaves with more deeply lobed margins, contributing to fine-textured foliage.Distinctive floral characteristics comprise a smaller flower diameter, a more vivid and elongated red eye spot, and narrower, undulate petals with slight overlap (I-b), which collectively confer an intricate and graceful appearance compared with the compact floral form of 'Samchulli.' 'Samilhong' exhibits extended individual flower longevity of approximately 54 h, nearly three times that of 'Samchulli,' coupled with consistently prolific flower production.The new cultivar exhibits robust adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, including tolerance to heat, drought, and partial shade.It is readily propagated clonally via cuttings, maintaining genetic stability across generations.For the commercialization of 'Samilhong', plant variety protection in Korea was secured in 2015, European Community plant variety rights were granted in 2023, and a U.S. plant patent was approved in 2024.The cultivar has been introduced to the European market under the trade name 'Little Legends Pink.'This study records the first instance of a Korean-developed H. syriacus cultivar achieving simultaneous intellectual property protection in Korea, the United States, and Europe, thereby attesting to its substantial ornamental appeal, ecological resilience, and international market competitiveness as a premium cultivar for contemporary landscape applications.