Watering: Water deeply but less frequently to encourage deep, healthy roots. Rose of Sharon is drought-tolerant once established. Fertilizing: Fertilize in early spring by applying a granular rose fertilizer according to the label. Reapply each spring.
For spectacular flowers and easy care, plant your Rose of Sharon in a spot with good drainage and full sun to partial shade. In northern climates, six or more hours of direct daily sun promotes maximum blooms.
Pruning rose of Sharon shrub may be done in late fall or winter after leaves drop or in early spring before buds form. Rose of Sharon pruning done later than early spring may cause the loss of some blooms, but those that are not removed will be larger.
Rose of Sharon works well in a mixed ornamental border or tropical-style garden. Plant it in a sunny, sheltered spot in moist but well-drained soil. Prune back hard in late spring to encourage bushy growth. In colder regions, it's a good idea to mulch around the base of the roots to protect against frost.
Best Fertilizer for Rose of Sharon
An ideal fertilizer would be a slow-release formula with a balanced composition, such as 10-10-10 or 14-14-14. The second number, phosphorus can be higher than the rest, but a higher nitrogen level is not recommended.
The magnesium in Epsom salts plays a major role in chlorophyll production, which is responsible for the green color in leaves. "Epsom salts can help prevent magnesium deficiency in roses, resulting in healthier foliage," says Harvell.
Fortunately, you can combine pruning with deadheading on this plant, which encourages bushy growth and gets rid of the seed pods at the same time. Because Rose of Sharon blooms on new growth every year, you can prune it in the fall without influencing the flowering.
A rose of Sharon plant is a deciduous plant, meaning come fall, its leaves will turn slightly yellow and fall off. If your plant is exhibiting this behavior earlier than expected, it can be something else like water or soil drainage issues, insect activity, a disease, or a nutritional deficiency.
Rose of sharons are hardy perennials that can last for many years if properly taken care of. The plant's actual flowers usually only bloom for a couple weeks.
Removing the blooms and developing seed pods—a process known as deadheading—halts the seed production process in its tracks, and thereby prevents the rampant self-seeding for which rose of Sharon is famous. When the flowers of your shrub are done blooming, simply deadhead them.
To propagate a rose of Sharon, dividing is not recommended, but taking cuttings can work well. In early to midsummer, trim lengths of six or seven inches, dip in rooting hormone, and plant in soilless mix, keeping evenly moist, covering if necessary, until new growth appears.
When a Rose of Sharon Doesn't Bloom. There are many possible answers as to why buds on your rose of Sharon flower do not open, but the most common causes are related to shade, rot, or overwatering, and drought: Excessive shade: Rose of Sharon will not bloom up to its full capabilities if given too much shade.
Dear Eileen: Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) can be propagated asexually from stem cuttings, which will ensure that the new plants will be identical to the parent plant. Rose of Sharon will root from either softwood or hardwood cuttings.
The religious imagery in relation to Rose of Sharon symbolizes her maturation and saintly nature. It also symbolizes how the power of a mother transcends both the biological and familial sphere to be able to restore and save.
Rose of Sharon grows at the rate of 24 inches (2 feet) per year. It is a slow grower that requires a lot of patience. To attain maturity, this plant needs about 4-6 years.
Growth Rate
This shrub grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24" per year.
Rose of Sharon shrubs can be sensitive to drought or waterlogged soil. Yellowing or browning leaves, dropping buds, wilting plants, or stunted growth problems with althea oftentimes are caused by improper drainage in the planting site.
Rose of Sharon falls under the genus Hibiscus, making it a cousin of other popular Hibiscus varieties. Essentially, all Rose of Sharons are Hibiscus, but not all Hibiscus are Rose of Sharons. The plant traditionally labeled 'Hibiscus' as a common name is actually called Chinese Hibiscus, or Rose of China.
In most cases, hibiscus is non-toxic for pets, but the Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a type of hibiscus that can be harmful to your furry friend. If a dog ingests a significant amount of this hibiscus' flower, they can experience nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Another solution to prevent the leaves on roses turning yellow is to improve the drainage of your soil. If the water is not draining properly, it can cause the roots to rot, which will lead to yellow leaves. To improve drainage, you can add organic matter such as compost or manure to your soil.
'If you are growing roses in your garden, in most cases it is beneficial to remove the yellow leaves from your rose. This will help prevent fungus and other pests from taking hold of your plant,' adds Gabriel. 'However, if you are growing roses indoors, it is generally not necessary to remove the yellow leaves.
Disease. The most common diseases that may plague rose of Sharon are leaf spot, rust, and root rot.
By adding coffee grounds to your roses, you create a barrier that will keep pests away and allow your rose bushes to thrive. So if you're wondering whether coffee grounds are good for roses, the answer is a resounding yes! Coffee grounds are an inexpensive and readily available organic fertilizer for your roses.
Roses can be pruned during late winter when growth is just resuming, usually mid-February in the south, but in northern and colder areas wait until March. Deadheading is carried out in summer after flowering.