Rose of Sharon
Hibiscus syriacus (MALVACEAE)
Planting and Growing Rose of Sharon
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow rose of Sharon in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, pods, and seeds of rose of Sharon
- Growing conditions for rose of Sharon
- When and where to plant rose of Sharon
- How to plant rose of Sharon
- How to shape, prune and control growth of rose of Sharon
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of rose of Sharon
- Landscape uses of rose of Sharon
- Pest and disease control for rose of Sharon
Growing Rose of Sharon
Several cultivars of medium-growing, erect, branching, deciduous shrubs, to 8–12 ft. (2.4–3.7 m) tall and 6–8 ft. (1.8–2.4 m) wide, with matte, green, oak-like leaves, to 4 in. (10 cm) long, often with scalloped lobes.
Commonly available cultivars include Hibiscus syriacus ‘Tricolor,’ ‘Pink Giant,’ and ‘Diana.’
A closely related species that is also cold-tolerant and hardy is Crimson-eyed rose mallow, Hibiscus moscheutos. See also Chinese hibiscus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and Confederate-rose hibiscus, Hibiscus mutabilis, two tropical hibiscus species.
Rose of Sharon Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Seeds
Showy, white, pink, purple, red, single or double flowers, 3–6 in. (75–100 mm) wide, in summer–autumn, form dry, hairy, capsulelike pods bearing seed in autumn. Each flower lasts a single day.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 5–9. Hardy.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp to dry, well-drained soil. Fertility: Poor–rich. 5.5–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun. Space 6–10 ft. (1.8–3.0 m) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Allow soil to dry completely between waterings. Fertilize quarterly. Prune lightly when dormant to shape. Propagate by stem cuttings, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for backgrounds, beds, borders, paths in arid and natural gardens. Air pollution, heat, humidity, poor soil, and drought tolerant. Japanese beetle, fungal disease susceptible