rose of Sharon, common name for several plants, especially Hibiscus syriacus, of the family Malvaceae (mallow family), and for St.-John's-wort, i.e., any species of the genus Hypericum of the family Hypericaceae (St.-John's-wort family). The Malvaceae are classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Malvales. The Hypericaceae are similarly classified, but in the order Theales.