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Florida Gardening

Rose of Sharon (aka Althea, Hibiscus syriacus) zone 10?

11 years ago

I have read that growing this in zone 10 is folly.

Any experience to share?

Thanks,

Gina

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Comments (5)

Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
11 years ago
Gina,

This is just my experience. I have two of them that struggle here in Jacksonville, Zone 9A, which I think is the high end of their zone tolerance. As you already know, they are related to hibiscus but rose of sharon are more cold-hardy. They generally are described as hardy in Zones 5A-9A. The problem is that they need sun to bloom yet can't tolerate all that heat. So it is a struggle for them, even here in Jacksonville. That doesn't stop Home Depot and Lowes from fully stocking them every spring. :)

Maybe someone here can tell both of us how to make them happy in Florida?

Carol
L_in_FL
11 years ago
Hmm, "happy" may be a strong word, but my mother has one older than me. (8B/9A border, Panama City area.) It's in fairly heavy shade from oak trees. It's sparse, tall and leggy, but it does bloom every year. I don't believe she ever does anything with it. Perhaps it's just a really determined specimen.
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"Nah, limiting the statement to Alabama wouldn't make it any more true." I wasn't. I'm from OH, where the convention is the same. Also assumed you'd seen Rhizo around enough to know she's lived in several 'east' states, but that's my bad, sorry. Regardless, the whole discussion is a perfect example of the uselessness of common names. Handy for when ID is already established, but discussing the 'proper' common name for anything is really just an exercise in curiosity, there is no right or wrong, as you well know. Many people name their plants Steve or Betty... or Audrey. Not sure why you insist on picking the gnat poo out of this pepper pile. Flora, that's the prettiest one I've ever seen! Wow! My aunt had some of these trees in central Indiana, with white petals, red centers, but it was nowhere near as pretty as that, with the 'streaking' detail. I dug up a few of the little ones (can't imagine doing that NOW - they were 4-6 ft. tall & filled the back of the minivan) and they survived and did well in my yard and Mom's yard in central OH, same latitude from which they came. The one was about 15 feet tall when I moved from that house. What I thought was so cool about those particular ones was that it was so reliable about opening its' first flowers within a day or two of July 4th, we called it Independence tree. The British may not appreciate such, but we thought it was neat-o. This pic is from 8/14/01, sorry it's not great. 1MP camera in those days.
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Thank you both, it appears to be the Confederate Rose. I looked it up for more description. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus_mutabilis The picture to the right sure looks like what I saw. The only disagreeing part, would be that some of the flowers were still very white as evening approached on the bushes I viewed, instead of pink or reddish by the end of the day. It is only hardy to zone 7. DARN IT! I was prepared for the disappointment though. It is so attractive it surely would have been planted more widely if it could survive the cold weather. Again thank you both very much for the ID help. At least I learned more about it. Here is a link that might be useful: Confederate Rose
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My CF bloomed every spring and every fall. Always covered in white fly. wood is very soft and breaks easily so here on the coast, always broken limbs. It is a short-lived, small tree. Maximum height 10-12`. Full sun, easy from seeds or cuttings. Can be cut back to ground as desired. Starts white ends up pink, white, pink and double varieties available. Also prone to mealy bugs and root rot. Hybrids less hardy. NOT salt tolerant! Lost to Ike. Rose of Sharon, much smaller, longer lived, shorter. Easy from cuttings or seeds. In the south prefers more shade, even full shade but will thrive and bloom in full sun if enough water. Full sun in the north, they live in Delaware. More choices in colors, red, pink, white, purple, w/eye, double varieties. Mealy bugs can be a problem. Tally HO!
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Putting in my plug for a little research before you buy. There are "sterile" varieties now that will save you a lifetime of weeding the all buggering babies they make. It is either the Chiffon or Satin series. You have no idea how prolific the fertile ones and how time consuming it is pulling the thousands of seedlings. The sterile ones are as lovely as any of the other ones. I'm going to look them up now so I can be more assertive in the next recommendation I make. Not the ones I was thinkiing of but here's a start: "Four of them are U.S. National Arboretum introductions: 'Diana' (white), 'Aphrodite' (pink with a red eye), 'Minerva' (pale lavender) and 'Helena' (white with a red eye). You might also run across a new Proven Winners variety called 'Sugar Tip,' which is pale pink with variegated leaves. That one doesn't produce seed." and "Blue Satin" (from Mobot), there is also Rose, Azure, Culture "Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best flowering occurs in full sun. Prefers moist, organically rich soils, but tolerates poor soils and some drought. Very tolerant of summer heat and humidity. Generally tolerant of urban conditions. Flowers appear on new growth, so plants may be pruned to shape in late winter to early spring. Pruning back to 2-3 buds may produce larger blooms. Easily propagated by stem cuttings. This is a sterile cultivar that does not produce viable seed."
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happy_girl
11 years ago
I have two, here in St. Cloud.Both are in full morning sun & afternoon shade. My friend sent the seed from Michigan. They are not huge plants but both bloom every year. They are white with a deep red throat. You never know until you try.
Tom
11 years ago
I have had one for about 12 years in zone 9B. It is now declining but has been blooming very well for all these years. It was the first plant that I saw hummingbirds use.

Mine is in partial shade. I would say it receives about 4 or 5 hours of sun a day. I love this plant. It is beautiful and survives all of the freezes here in Central Florida. I live in Clermont, which is about twenty miles due West of Orlando.
Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
11 years ago
Here's some info I saved from this forum in 2005. Note that I'm the original poster (!). Too funny.

=======================
Rose of Sharon (Althea)
Posted by Love_the_Yard z9A Jax FL (My Page) on Sun, Aug 21, 05 at 23:26
Ambersky,
Where did you plant your new double pink Rose of Sharon (althea)? I
too bought one last week - also a double pink. The tag says "full to
part sun". I've noticed a few posts that say they struggle with the
heat here in Florida. I'm thinking about part shade. (It's on the
screened-in porch in the shade righ now and actually seems pretty
happy - haha!) What did you do?
Carol

Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Rose of Sharon (Althea)
Posted by: claferg z9a Volusia FL (My Page) on Mon, Aug 22, 05 at 10:42
My experience with Rose Of Sharon is part shade, or morning sun and
afternoon shade. They seem to do very nicely in these situations.
I have a single white, a double white and two single purples and
they are doing great.
I think the mistake most people who are unfamiliar with Rose of
Sharon make is planting them in full sun like a hibiscus. Up north
this is no problem, but here in Florida
they really suffer during the hot months in full sun.

RE: Rose of Sharon (Althea)
Posted by: SnickerKitten Z9b FL (My Page) on Mon, Aug 22, 05 at 20:21
Mine gets sunlight filtered by some larger plants. She's come back
from being a stick with a few yellow leaves to being full of lush
dark green leaves and at last count, 2 blooms and 15 buds!
Lori

RE: Rose of Sharon (Althea)
Posted by: SnickerKitten Z9b FL (My Page) on Wed, Aug 24, 05 at 14:41
Make that six absolutely gorgeous blooms!
Lori

RE: Rose of Sharon (Althea)
Posted by: mistiaggie z10 FL (My Page) on Mon, Sep 12, 05 at 15:54
I have some "sticks" from cuttings that I've had for a year and they
put out little bitty leaves and that's it. no new growth....maybe
it's too hot here?

RE: Rose of Sharon (Althea)
Posted by: bruggirl100 z9 FL (My Page) on Mon, Sep 12, 05 at 19:15
I have one that has done absolutely nothing in 4 years. I think it's
too hot, but then, I have it in full sun.

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