| What are the primary differences between the Rose of Sharon and Hibiscus as related to general overall size, blooming period, and maintenance? |
Rose of Sharon, also known as Hibiscus syriacus or Shrub Althea, is a great shrub for late summer bloom. This is a potentially large (up to 8 or 12 foot) shrub with lovely blooms in mid to late summer. It is easy to grow, can be pruned for size in very early spring, and does best in full sun in any reasonable soil. The double flowered forms are very striking. All Hibiscus require full sun, good drainage, regular, deep watering and frequent feeding. If you prune the plant in early spring, you'll encourage new flowering stems. If you pinch out the tips of the new growth in the late spring and early summer, flower production will increase. When you water, apply liberally to wet the entire root system. Feed plants every two weeks with a diluted liquid fertilizer (from spring through the end of summer), pinch out the the tips of the new stems and your plant should produce blooms. |
| we always prune our Rose of Sharon in the Fall ..Is that totally the wrong time to do it? |
| MY what I thought was a hibiscus bush has the same exact flowers like in your photo above. My neighbor says because its a bush not a tree like hers it is not a rose of sharron....puzzling to me. The leaves are different I figure that is the deciding factor. New here and new to gardening so overwhelming. |
| Rose of Sharon can be grafted onto a standard or trained to be a tree. So, though yours is a bush and your neighbor's is a tree, they may both still be Rose of Sharon. |
