How to Grow Rose of Sharon (2024)

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Rose of Sharon enjoys full sun, although they will still grow in partial sun locations but may bloom less. They are wonderfully carefree about their soil as long as it is well-drained. Even clay soils are acceptable for these plants, and they are moderately tolerant of salt, which makes them excellent shrubs to plant near the road ordriveway.

They tolerate a wide range of pH, and although they prefer loamy, slightly moist soils, most places in the yard will do. Most varieties available are cold hardy in USDA zones5-9.

Smaller Rose of Sharon do very well in large containers and can make an excellent, colorful addition to a patio or outdoor living space. Containerized shrubs also work well for northern gardeners whose cold winters are too much for these floweringplants.

When To Plant Rose ofSharon

Rose of Sharon can be planted in either spring or fall, depending on your region. In areas with prolonged frozen ground, you’ll find better success with spring plantings to allow roots to establish before coldweather.

Southern gardeners can utilize fall planting, allowing the plant to establish itself after summer’s heat and dry spells areover.

How To Plant Rose ofSharon

Plant Rose of Sharon shrubs like other perennials. Pay attention to their mature size and choose a spot where they’ll fit into your plan as they grow. A large shrub in a small space is no fun for you or theplant.

1. Dig a hole at least twice as wide as the root ball and about as deep. Don’t dig a vertical-sided well. The hole should have slopedsides.
2. Loosen the soil in the bottom of the hole to help withdrainage.
3. Water the shrub well an hour beforeplanting.
4. Remove the shrub from its container. If it doesn’t want to come loose, lay the container on its side and roll it back and forth, applying enough pressure to deform the plastic container. It should popfree.
5. Prune any circling or girdling roots. Loosen up rootbound plants by scoring the edges of the root ball with your soil knife orshovel.
6. Test fit the shrub in the hole, ensuring the plant will sit at the same level in the new spot. Don’t bury it too deeply. Adjust the depth of the hole asnecessary.
7. Plant the shrub and backfill the hole with the soil you removed. Don’t forget to keep it upright! Pause part way and water thoroughly, then continue adding soil. Firm the soil around the roots to avoid air pockets and get good root-to-soilcontact.
8. Make a slightly raised berm around the plant to keep water from runningaway.
9. Water your Rose of Sharon thoroughly, letting water soak into thesoil.
10. Mulch underneath to keep weeds down and keep the soil moist. Extend the mulch two feet from the stems and apply it 3 to 4 inches thick. Don’t allow the mulch to touch thestem.

These shrubs are not picky and, in fact, are easy to grow and low maintenance. Like other newly planted perennials, they’ll need supplemental watering during the first year, especially in dry summers. Aim for one inch of water per week between rainfall andirrigation.

In better-quality soils, your Rose of Sharons won’t need fertilizing. If your soil is nutrient-poor, consider fertilizing twice yearly, once in spring and again mid-summer, with a slow-release fertilizer.
Pruning is not required–your Rose of Sharon will grow on without attention–but it does encourage more blooming. Rose of Sharon blooms on new wood, meaning old, woody, gnarly branches won’t put out manyflowers.

To keep an established H. syriacus in full bloom, trim some old, woody branches back to the ground every year. Remove no more than a third of them at a time. New growth will sprout back. Pruning should be performed in late winter or early spring while the plant is still dormant. Of course, broken branches can be removed at anytime.

Breeders have developed these shrubs as a series, with the same characteristics but available in different colors. Check out these series below, and choose a color (or several) youlike.

• ‘Sugar Tip’ is a mid-sized line of shrubs with unique cream and white variegatedfoliage.
• ‘Satin’ is a full-sized group with an upright form reaching heights of 12 feet. Perfect for a tall privacy screen of foliage and loads of summerblooms.
• ‘Paraplu’ is a hybrid with a less rigid form and larger blooms than other varieties. They reach a medium size of about 8-10 feet tall and five feetwide.
• ‘Lil Kim’ is a dwarf line of H. syriacus ideally suited for small spaces. They are compact and dense, with a mature size of about 3-4 feet tall. Try them in containers for a splash of color on thepatio.

Andy Wilcox