I have Rose of Sharon Questions

[mskay]

My mother-in-law was trying to be kind and gave me three or four rose of Sharon bushes. She sent her husband to plant them. It was obviously kind of them and I am thankful, but I know NOTHING about them (or any other plant/bush/tree/flower) for that matter. Please tell me everything I need to know/do. Thanks!

 

[Tulirose]

Hi mskay!

Rose of Sharon is a great shrub/tree. It is deciduous, looses leaves in the fall. It is really a bush but can be pruned into a tree shape if so desired. I've seen them make a beautiful privacy hedge but mine are not at that point yet. They have big hibiscus-like flowers. They tolerate heat well and can be planted in full sun or part shade. They can grow as high as 8 to 12 feet and, according to this book I have here, 6 to 8 feet wide! Mine are not that wide but mine are only about 4-5 years old. They flower on new wood grown the same year so pruning shrub back hard in late winter or early spring will result in lots of beautiful flowers. (That time frame is according to book, I haven't pruned mine back yet this season but will). This first year, make sure they receive LOTS of water, especially during the summer. The flowers bloom in the summer time when everything else is fried. It's a great plant. Your in-laws are very kind to have gotten these for you and to have planted them too. Enjoy!

 

[Cruise04]

Question Tulirose - how big are yours? I'm investigating several different bushes because we want to plant some next spring to use as a substitute for a fence (the fence would be to keep the kids out of our yard and to have some privacy). I'm going to need something that will be at least 4' in the first few years. I love Rose of Sharon and was wondering the height at this stage.

TIA

 

[Jiminy102]

My mom has Rose of Sharon's. Great plant. All she has ever done to them is to prune them in late fall or as soon as you start getting warm days but before buds in the spring. Other than that nothing. They are kept trimmed to about 4 feet now but were as big as 6 while I was growing up becasue that is where Dad kept them. No real work involved.

 

[DebºoºS]

We have 16 planted as a fence. They're all Althea which is a rosey color. Rose of Sharon are very hardy and keep their shape with little trimming. I love the way they bloom when all the other bushes are finished.
How very thoughtful of you MIL to give them & plant them.

 

[rockyroad]

Rose of Sharon is a very tought plant. Once you get them established they are basically self sufficient, in Memphis anyway.

Mine create many babies, so soon you may have many.

 

[Tulirose]

Question Tulirose - how big are yours? I'm investigating several different bushes because we want to plant some next spring to use as a substitute for a fence (the fence would be to keep the kids out of our yard and to have some privacy). I'm going to need something that will be at least 4' in the first few years. I love Rose of Sharon and was wondering the height at this stage.

TIA

I read this the other day and have been meaning to go back in that area and haven't had the chance. Going away tomorrow so I will give you my educated guess.

Background first - These were growing in a friend's yard and asked us to come dig them out for her. The tallest at that time was about 5 feet and the smallest was about 3.5 feet and they were literally just sticks. Now the tall one has to be at least 8 feet tall and the smaller ones are all roughly six feet. So, they shoot up pretty fast but I am waiting for them to fill in. They are not very wide.

Remember, they lose their leaves in the fall so the privacy is not year roundl.

 

[Cruise04]

That's okay - once the cold hits the kids don't run around the yards that much and I don't sit out on my deck.

 

[DebºoºS]

I just checked on mine and Dneighbor has managed to kill 2 of them. He had his sprinkler heads installed on our property aimed at our bushes. We planted them there becasue it's a low area that we wouldn't have to worry about watering them in. As a result they had too much water. Not happy with Dneighbor right now.
Anyhoo, they cannot tolerate too much water. The normal amount is fine and even then they can tolerate going dry.

 

[Tulirose]

Deb - Is this the same Dneighbor with the lawnmower?

 

[DebºoºS]

Tuli asked:

Is this the same Dneighbor with the lawnmower?

It is We put the Rose of Sharon there because he kept getting his tractor stuck (mowing when the ground was wet ) We had big ruts as a result and the grass wouldn't grow.
D is for Dopey or D*#!