What Is The Lifespan Of Rose of Sharon? A Rose of Sharon can live and thrive, and even produce blooms for 20 or 30 years!
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.
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.
Mature Size. The rose-of-sharon grows to a height of 8–12' and a spread of 6–10' at maturity.
Can Rose of Sharon Be Kept Small? While rose of Sharon can withstand some light pruning in early spring, it does not grow well when continually trimmed to stay small. Cutting your rose of Sharon throughout the growing season will lead to reduced blooms and an overall stressed plant.
The root system of the rose of Sharon is a taproot system that can grow as deep as 45 cm or 1.5 feet. Most of the roots could be found in the top 23 to 30 cm or 8 to 12 inches of soil but it it can reach as far as 76 cm or 30 inches away from the plant.
The fact that rose of Sharon self-seeds so easily means it is also quite easy to propagate deliberately.
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.
Top, upright growth may be pinched back to encourage the growth of side branches. Oldest and tallest stems can be removed first. An important step in rose of Sharon pruning is removal of any suckers sprouting from the bottom of the trunk, growing from the roots or spouting in the nearby growing area.
Common Problems With Rose of Sharon
Improper watering can cause buds and leaves to drop, while pests like aphids and Japanese beetles can damage leaves, and nematodes in the soil can affect roots. Fungal diseases like leaf spot, leaf rust, and a variety of molds and mildews can damage leaves and harm your plant.
The object of this “mysterious smile” is the act of saving the dying man by mothering him, and this pleases Rose of Sharon; she judges it to be good. She provides life and nourishment to another person, and she feels fulfilled.
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.
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.
In late spring, after it has leafed out, prune out the winter damaged branches and apply a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer to give it a head start. A mid-summer application of a low nitrogen 0-10-10 fertilizer will promote root health and flower production.
Deadheading and removing old flowers
But most varieties actually go to seed very successfully, and quickly spread seeds around them when the pods burst open. To limit the spread of your Rose of Sharon plants, remove wilted flowers regularly, or at least towards the end of summer.
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.
Its roots grow right beneath the surface of the soil, so they should not cause damage to any structures. However, they can grow up to 12 feet high and can spread out, so rose of Sharon should not be planted close to septic tanks or drainpipes.
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.
Keep the cutting moist and away from direct sun- it should root in a month or two. Alternatively, propagate your Rose of Sharon cuttings in water. Some gardeners like to start the cuttings off in just a clear glass or plastic container of water rather than planted in compost.
With growth rates from 3 to 5 feet per year the fastest growing privacy hedges are Thuja Green Giant, Leyland Cypress, Cryptomeria Radicans, and Wax Myrtle.
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.
PLANTING & CARING FOR ROSE OF SHARON
Space plants 6-10 feet apart, depending on the variety.