Rose of Sharon Plant Care

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) belongs to the Malvaceae family within the Hibiscus genus. Rose of Sharon is native to South-central and southeast China. Rose of Sharon is also known as Shrub Althea, Rose Mallow.

Rose of Sharon displays an upright, spreading growth habit, reaching up to 8 ft tall with a spread of approximately 6 ft. Rose of Sharon produces trumped-shaped, pink or purple.

Leaf size: approximately 5 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Rose of Sharon every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Rose of Sharon thrives in full sun.

Hibiscus syriacus tolerates temperatures of 60–90°F. Rose of Sharon prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-drained soil. Good drainage is essential for Rose of Sharon to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Rose of Sharon every 2 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun and well-drained soil. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Rose of Sharon is suited to USDA Zone 5a – 9b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Rose of Sharon can spread to about 6 ft (1.8 m) and reach about 8 ft (2 m) tall. Space plants about 6 ft (1.8 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Rose of Sharon while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Rose of Sharon is hardy down to USDA zone 5a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Rose of Sharon can be propagated through softwood cuttings, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to chinese hibiscus plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Rose of Sharon is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Rose of Sharon grows outdoors in USDA Zone 5a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 5a. Rose of Sharon is native to South-central and southeast China.