If you want a flowering shrub that delivers stunning color and easy care, few plants can match the appeal of rose of sharon varieties. These beautiful plants are a summer garden staple, reliably blooming when many other shrubs have finished their show. With so many types to choose from, you can find the perfect one to fit your space and style.
This guide will help you understand the different rose of sharon varieties available and how to make them thrive in your own garden. We’ll cover everything from classic favorites to exciting new cultivars, along with simple tips for planting and care.
Rose Of Sharon Varieties
The term “rose of sharon” refers to Hibiscus syriacus, a hardy deciduous shrub. It’s not actually a rose, but a member of the mallow family. Modern breeding has expanded the range dramatically, offering choices in flower form, color, size, and growth habit. This means there’s likely a perfect variety for almost any garden need.
Key Features to Consider:
* Flower Type: Single, semi-double, or double blooms.
* Color: White, pink, red, purple, blue, and bicolors.
* Plant Habit: Upright, columnar, or dwarf forms.
* Foliage: Traditional green or variegated leaves.
Popular and Reliable Rose of Sharon Cultivars
Let’s look at some standout varieties that have proven their worth in gardens across many climates. Each has its own unique charm and growing requirements.
Classic Single-Flowering Types
These varieties have a simple, open flower form that is very attractive to pollinators like bees and hummingbirds. The single blooms often have a prominent stamen.
* ‘Diana’: Known for its pure white, large single flowers that stay open at night. It’s a sterile cultivar, which means it sets no messy seed pods, a big plus for neatnik gardeners.
* ‘Blue Bird’: Offers beautiful single flowers in a violet-blue shade with a dark red eye. It’s a older, very reliable variety that establishes quickly.
* ‘Red Heart’: A striking bicolor with pure white petals and a bold crimson-red center. The contrast is dramatic and very eye-catching in the landscape.
Showy Double and Semi-Double Blooms
For a look that resembles a rose or peony, these varieties are exceptional. The layered petals create a lush, full appearance all summer long.
* ‘Aphrodite’: Boasts large, pink single flowers with a deep red eye and ruffled petals. It’s known for its vigorous growth and heavy flowering.
* ‘Ardens’: A lovely semi-double variety with lavender-pink flowers. It’s a compact grower, making it suitable for smaller spaces where you might not have room for a larger shrub.
* ‘Lucy’: Not a reliably hardy in the coldest zones, but prized for its double blooms that shift from pink to red to purple. It often has a mix of flower colors on the plant at once.
Dwarf and Compact Selections
Modern breeding has produced excellent smaller varieties. These are ideal for foundation plantings, containers, or small urban gardens where space is limited.
* ‘Sugar Tip’ (aka ‘America Irene Scott’): This is a fantastic two-tone plant. It features variegated creamy-white and green foliage and soft pink double blooms. It stays quite manageable in size.
* ‘Lil’ Kim’ Series: These are true dwarfs, reaching only about 3-4 feet tall and wide. They come in colors like white, red, and violet, and are covered in flowers. Their small size makes them incredibly versatile.
* ‘PollyPetite’: Another mini variety, offering blue single flowers on a plant that matures around 4 feet tall. It’s perfect for adding a pop of color to a patio pot.
How to Plant and Grow Your Rose of Sharon
Getting your plant off to a good start is simple. Follow these steps for the best results and a healthy, blooming shrub for years to come.
1. Choose the Right Spot. Rose of sharon needs full sun for best flowering—at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. It can tolerate light shade, but bloom will be reduced. Ensure the location has well-drained soil.
2. Prepare for Planting. Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Loosening the soil in a wide area helps the roots expand easily. Mix some compost into the native soil if you have heavy clay or very sandy ground.
3. Plant Correctly. Place the shrub in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Backfill with your soil mixture, gently firming it down to remove air pockets. Water deeply immediately after planting.
4. Water and Mulch. Keep the soil consistently moist (but not soggy) for the first growing season to establish a strong root system. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, but keep it away from the stem itself.
Essential Care Tips for Maximum Blooms
Once established, rose of sharon is remarkably low-maintenance. A little attention at the right time makes a big difference.
Watering: Mature plants are quite drought-tolerant. Water deeply during prolonged dry spells, especially when the plant is forming buds and flowering.
Fertilizing: Feed in early spring with a balanced, slow-release shrub fertilizer. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which can promote leaf growth at the expense of flowers.
Pruning: This is one of the most important tasks. Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
* Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches.
* To control size and shape, you can cut branches back by up to one-third.
* Remember, it blooms on new wood, so pruning encourages fresh growth and more flowers.
Pest and Disease Watch: These shrubs are generally trouble-free. Keep an eye out for aphids or Japanese beetles, which can be sprayed off with water or managed with appropriate treatments. Good air circulation helps prevent fungal leaf spots.
Design Ideas for Your Garden
Rose of sharon is incredibly versatile in the landscape. Here’s how to use it effectively:
* As a Hedge or Screen: Plant them in a row, spaced about 4-6 feet apart depending on the variety. They will create a beautiful, blooming privacy screen in summer.
* Specimen Plant: Use a particularly striking variety, like a double-flowered or variegated form, as a focal point in a garden bed.
* Mixed Shrub Border: Combine them with other flowering shrubs like hydrangeas, spirea, or butterfly bush for a long season of interest.
* Pollinator Garden: The single-flowered varieties are excellent nectar sources. Plant them alongside coneflowers, bee balm, and salvia.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: When does rose of sharon bloom?
A: It’s a late summer bloomer, typically flowering from midsummer into early fall, often when other shrubs are done.
Q: Is rose of sharon invasive?
A: Some older varieties can self-seed prolifically, which can be messy or weedy. The best solution is to choose modern sterile or low-seed cultivars like ‘Diana’ or the ‘Lil’ Kim’ series.
Q: How fast does it grow?
A: It has a moderate growth rate, adding about 1 to 2 feet per year under good conditions until it reaches its mature height.
Q: Can I grow rose of sharon in a pot?
A: Yes! Dwarf varieties are excellent for container gardening. Choose a large pot with drainage holes and use a quality potting mix. You’ll need to water more frequently than plants in the ground.
Q: What’s the difference between hibiscus and rose of sharon?
A: Rose of sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a hardy, temperate-zone shrub. Tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is frost-tender and grown as an annual or houseplant in colder climates. The flowers can look similar, but the plants are very different.
With so many beautiful rose of sharon varieties available, you can easily find one that brings lasting color and joy to your garden. By selecting the right cultivar and providing basic care, you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular display that gets better every year. Remember to plant it in full sun, prune at the right time, and enjoy the process of watching it flourish.