Rose Of Sharon

The popular Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a deciduous shrub that produces colorful, cup-shaped flowers, and depending on the variety, flowers from mid summer through to the fall when few other shrubs are in bloom.

Depending on the variety there is a wide range of of colors including pink, red, blue, purple, and white. The height typically varies between 8 to 12 feet tall with a spread of 6 to 10 feet, and 3 to feet for smaller varieties A hardy shrub it stands up well against pollution and is a good shrub for the urban garden.

You should choose a site that has full sun to moderate shade and with moist well drained soil.Planting is best carried out during the spring or fall.

Dig a hole only as deep as the root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide. In the event your soil is in very poor condition, add a good quality compost. Take care when removing the shrub from its container and place it in the hole.

Half fill the hole with soil and water well to eliminate any air pockets. Allow the water to drain and top up with soil and water thoroughly.

Add a layer of compost underneath the shrub each spring. Ensure you water plants through the summer if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week. Flowers are produced on new wood, so pruning should be carried out in early spring to shape and reduce size.

Pruning the shrub back to 2 to 3 buds per branch in spring will encourage larger flowers. Also the removal of dead, diseased, and injured branches can be carried out at any time during the year.