We were given a large amount of Rose of Sharon A few years back. Use them as a fence border between yards. How Ever, This year they are not blooming as beautifully as they have in prior years. Not due to lack of /or over watering. They have become extremely leggy over the past month. When is the best time to "prune back" and about how much would normally need to be pruned to continue a beautiful floral fence/hedge? The Flowers a few years ago were absolutely stunning. I am sorry, I do not know the specific names of these bloomers.

Hi Terri, Those are really lovely blooms!

Your first photo does look to be Roses of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) but the second two look more like Tropical Hibiscuses (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) to me and I'm amazed if they survive your zone 6 winters! I've had Hibiscus get real leggy if they are not kept pruned. I'm not sure why you aren't getting as many blooms as usual but hopefully someone from your growing zone will pop in with some advice.

Thank you Lin
I wasn't sure of the second Photos. I probably should dig those up since they were just given to me in July. those probably will be the ones that do not come back.:( I have never dug up plants to bring inside before. Any advice on keeping these beautys alive throughout the winter would be greatly appreciated.

Hopefully someone who grows Tropical HIbiscus as an indoor plant will come along and offer advice. I live in Florida where they are grown as landscape shrubs. I've never tried growing one indoors but I'd think as long as it has heat and humidity it would survive; I doubt it would bloom being inside during the colder months because it needs high light/direct sun but you could always overwinter it indoors and move the container back out during the spring and summer months to enjoy the blooms.

The Rose of Sharon bloom on new wood that is grown in the summer. I cut mine back every Spring. March - April. The more new growth the more flowers.

You cannot kill the bush. Cut all the limbs back to about 6". If you are afraid. Cut half of the limbs on one side and you will see the difference.

Thank you. I Suspect we WILL be cutting back. It was so pretty before. One long wall of flowers. Hope to see it like that again. Thanks for the information.

You are welcome. Cut as early as possible so you can get a lot of neew tips and you will see that wall of flowers again.

I do not cut them that much (6") but got this from Better Homes Garden: Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) responds well to pretty severe pruning, but don't cut it way back like you might a butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii). Prune your Rose of Sharon by half or even two-thirds of its height. Pruning prevents Rose of Sharon from becoming gangly or scruffy-looking.

Terri, I have a border "hedge" of these as well and I agree that spring pruning definitely does the trick. Good luck! BTW you don't need to cut them back all the way. You just won't get as many blooms down low. I cut mine back to 6' or so and they provide privacy and put on a great display.