The magnificent Rose of Sharon bush is your first choice to get the job done if you’re looking for a burst of color in your yard or garden. Here’s our guide on how to grow Rose of Sharon flowers. We’ll cover everything you need to know about growing and maintaining roses of Sharon so you’ll have a Rose of Sharon bush that will make your garden the new talk of the town.
Getting to Know the Rose of Sharon Plant
Before going straight to planting your Sharon of rose, you need to understand it. This way, your garden will truly enjoy its great beauty.
The meaning of ‘’Rose of Sharon’’ is love, beauty, and healing. Interestingly enough, the name is quoted in some religions as being ‘’God-like.’’
Scientifically, the rose of Sharon is referred to as the Hibiscus syriacus. Research studies show it belongs to the Hibiscus or Mallow family which is full of showy flowers. The Hypericum calycinum is a branch of the Hibiscus family. Thus, it is home to the different varieties of the rose of Sharon plant:
Matilde
This single pink flower has a red center and a soft blush to it. Another name for it is the Blue Satin.
Minifren
It’s a semi-double white flower which is also called a Bali Rose. It has a purple center.
Helene
This is a single white flower with a red-purple center.
Lavender Chiffon
It’s a single lavender flower with a lacy center. Most garden enthusiasts refer to it as Notwoodone.
Tahiti
This rose of Sharon is a pink flower with a red center. Scientists refer to it as Mineru.
The rose of Sharon is quite a unique flower and has distinct features that you’ll love.
Yet, the Hibiscus family is quite large and many confuse the different species that exist in it.
Here are some major differences between the Hibiscus syriacus and the Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis:
| Also called the Shrub Althea | Also called the Chinese Hibiscus |
| Grow outdoors in full sun and great soil | Grow indoors |
| Blooms during the mid to late summer season | Thrives during the winter season |
| Alternate foliage | Glossy and deep green foliage |
| Grow into an 8 to 12 foot shrub | Grow up to 30’ tall and 20’ wide |
There are more interesting facts about Hibiscus syriacus:
- The plants are native to China and India.
- Its flowers stay open for 1 day and close at night.
- Tolerates heat, humidity, and drought.
This beautiful plant is a must-have for the summer season.
Planting and Growing a Rose of Sharon Plant
Now that you’re up to speed on the details of the Sharon Hibiscus syriacus, let’s plant.
Finding the Best Seeds
This flower is so beautiful and rare. That’s why its seeds can be hard to come by.
Here are some expert tips on how to ensure you pick the best rose of Sharon seeds:
- Option #1: Collect the seeds from a rose of Sharon flower.
Preferably, pick them during the winter season, because this is when they ripen. If you pick them earlier than that, you can dry them out in a paper bag in the fridge.
- Option #2: Buy the seeds from a gardening store.
These often come when they are ripe. The rose of Sharon seeds can stay fresh for up to 1 year.
Afterward, you can check if the seeds are ripe enough. Place them in a paper bag and see if they get caught inside. If they do, this means they are ripe enough to plant.
In case you want to keep some seeds for next time, place them in a cool and dry place. Put them at the bottom of a small jar and fill it with rice to absorb any moisture.
Checking Your Soil Type
First, you need to locate a potential growth space for the seeds. The Rose of Sharon plant needs full sun for amazing flower production.
Once you do this, you need to check the soil type. The rose of Sharon requires moist and well drained soil for growth. You can easily check your soil drainage type by digging a hole in your garden. It should be 12’’ deep and wide. Pour water into it and let it drain. Do this twice and time how long it takes for all the water to drain into the soil. Well-drained soil absorbs all the water in a total time of 12 hours. If your soil hits the mark, you’re good to go.
The rose of Sharon grows best with a soil pH of 5.0 to 7.0. You can use these soil pH testing tips to get the best results.
Planting the Seeds
This plant grows ornamental flowers that need space to fully bloom and form a shrub. To ensure crown uniformity of the flowers, space the seeds 6 to 12 feet apart for the perfect garden hedge. Cover the seeds with soil and water up to 1 inch of the soil every week. If your area has a lot of rainfall, you can water them less. Consider using organic plant food during the late summer or early spring. This is when the shrub blooms well.
Observing Growth Rate
Patience is crucial for this beautiful flower. It has a slow growth rate of 12 to 24 inches yearly, even under the full sun. Yet, with time, the branches will spread out and the flowers will bloom in an attractive color. This can be either red, pink, blue, white, or lavender.
The best time to watch the blooms is during the later summer. The full sun during this season makes a huge difference in the color of the flowers making them brighter. Even though the flowers have a short lifespan, you can bet you’ll see more of them. As a shrub, the rose of Sharon will produce many buds that will form more flowers.
Pruning Your Rose of Sharon Bush
As your beautiful Hibiscus shrub grows, you will need to maintain its grandeur by pruning. Many garden enthusiasts wonder if pruning this shrub is necessary.
I just got a hibiscus. How do I keep it alive? from r/gardening
The shrub grows up to 12 feet tall and can spread up to 10 feet wide. Pruning helps in maintaining its aesthetics. There are several reasons why you might want to prune your rose by Sharon shrub:
- Reducing the height of the tree.
- To make the foliage more attractive.
- For a clear area underneath the rose Sharon canopy.
Ensure you have the best pruning tools to get the job done. Consider these pruning tips to keep yours healthy and happy.
You can prune it as much as you’d like in late February before the new growth begins.
Caring for Your Rose of Sharon Bush
At this point, your flowers have all bloomed and radiating with color. The red eye-catching blooms go through this cycle and always keep your shrub bright.
So, you should keep looking after it. This includes dealing with plant pests.
This shrub is pest-resistant but that doesn’t stop some pests from attacking it. For one, the Japanese beetle is one pest that often attacks the rose of Sharon plant.
To maintain the health and color of your shrub, avoid spraying pesticides on it. This can damage the beauty of your flowers and cause them to wither. Instead, handpick the bugs off. This is only necessary when you notice any pest damage to the plant. Regular inspection will save you the trouble.
Remember to water your shrub well into its full growth.
Learn New Skills and Cultivate Your Inner Green Thumb
It’s never too late to improve your gardening skills and make yourself proud. Growing the perfect red rose of Sharon bush is the beginning of your new journey.
Photo from needpix.com
Mine have become very invasive. Is there a way to control them from spreading and/ or an herbicide that will kill them?
It is alot of work but I cut off spent blooms that have gone to seed b4 they can plant themselves. Gather them up & dispose. Also can put down cardbd./ newspaper/ with mulch on top to keep seedlings from rooting.
If you cut off the seed pods they won’t spread.
Just when you think your plant didn’t make it through the winter it comes to life. Here in Maine it is about the last shrub to return. Mine grows pretty slowly but not bothered by pests.
I have a rose of Sharon tree that is 5 years old and is 12 feet high. . This year half of it is dead. The rest is blooming well. Will it come back if I trim it? When should I trim it back and by how much?
Thanks!
Joann.
Our Rose of Sharon is 15+/- ft. It has bloomed prolifically this summer as always, but within the last couple of weeks the leaves on the north side of the bush have turned yellow and fallen off. The south side is green and continues to bloom. What’s happening?
I have 5 Rose of Sharon plants, 2 white & 3 pink. 4 of these plants produce lots & lots of flowers every year & all are about 25 plus years old. My problem is 1 of the plants has never produced any flowers. It looks outstanding every year and is covered with buds that never flower. It is about 30 feet from another Rose of Sharon that does outstanding, I trim all the plants every other year but the one never blooms??? Any ideas….. I would hate to remove the plant because it always looks so so healthy ??!!!???!!???
I planted purple rose of sharon 5 years ago but last summer I saw pink flowers. This year I have white blooms, white with red centers and light purple and one plant has white, light purple and dark purple flowers. What happened?
I have wondered about the same thing happening with my irises. Some almost black ones have turned white. Blue Deft has lost much of it’s white stripping. I think – my theory – is that this is the stock that is was hybridized on . Contact the Agricultural Departments on the state and university levels or Master Gardeners’ in your area. Good luck – I’ve had no success in NW Indiana.
I too ( like Pat Gloudon) had a blue satin rose of sharon that bloomed much more “pinky” this year. Is the color affected by the soil acidity?
I have irises that have changed color over the years. The almost black ones are coming in white, Blue Delft has lost much of its white stripping. My theory – no scientific evidence – is that was the root stock it was hybridized on. Contact your agricultural departments the state and university levels. Maybe you can find help through the Master Gardeners’ site. Haven’t had any success in NW Indiana.
I have an established third year rose of Sharon! Just transplanted it an noticed one of the limbs at bottom of the plant has made y orange spots? What is this and what to do about it?
Checking
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Have a rose of Sharon that has clusters of blooms n one place
What is the name of this type