FREE: 50 Double White Rose of Sharon Seeds

The listing, 50 Double White Rose of Sharon Seeds has ended.

Plant taxonomy classifies rose of sharon, also called "althaea" or "althea," as Hibiscus syriacus.

Plant Type:
Rose of sharon is a deciduous flowering shrub.

Rose of sharon blooms profusely, and its attractive flowers are its main selling point. Another feature giving the shrub value is its relatively late period of blooming (in the Northeastern U.S., it blooms in August). Rose of sharon is thus able to offer color when many flowering shrubs have long since ceased blooming.

A heat-lover, this shrub is also prized by growers in the Southeastern U.S. who crave plants that can stand up to summer's heat. The plant is reasonably drought-tolerant. In fact, if your rose of sharon has yellow leaves, it could be due to over-watering.

Don't give up on rose of sharon, thinking it's dead just because it hasn't leafed out by early summer. This plant not only blooms late, but leafs out late, as well, so be patient. When an althea's flower buds are not opening, that's another matter.

Nor are those the only problems associated with growing Hibiscus syriacus. Its seed drops and sprouts where you don't want it to, and the consequent need to remove the young plants manually is hardly conducive to low-maintenance landscaping. For those seeking help in getting rid of althea seedlings, I do, however, offer an alternative to pulling up the seedlings.

Rose of sharon isn't the only type of Hibiscus that flourishes outside of tropical and sub-tropical regions, although when you hear that genus referred to you may very well think immediately of the tender types seen on display in greenhouses. Another hardy hibiscus is Hibiscus moscheutos, known for its giant-sized flowers.