Sodaisycrazy, I had Blue satin Rose of Sharon when I live in Pennsylvania, I don't grow Rose of Sharon down here in the Southeast heat. I had a small yard when I lived up north, so when the seedlings started growing everywhere and I had to weed them out, I wasn't too happy and then I understood what other people would complain about. Try them, they are truly beautiful shrubs.

I did not mention, the four that I found at the nursery later after my earlier started cuttings had just begun to root. One of the four I purchased at the nursery looked like it was struggling at the time I purchased it. It clearly had a thcker trunk and was about 8 inches tall. I brought it home and transplanted it to a 3 gallon pot. It too has been growing under the oak tree. Now it has abundant and nice dark leaves, and its main leader trunk is about 1/4th inch thick. All summer long its flower buds just dried up. I think that might have been due to the amount of shade where it was located. when I purchased that larger one, I also found three more that were in 4 inch pots. Their trunks are about 1/8th inch thick now, and have developed lots of dark green leaves and has bloomed a little under the dappled afternoon shade of the oak tree. At Ken's advice I took those 4 young potted starts out and set them just south of some taller azaleas, west of a still young camelia, and a few feet just east of my house. It seems reasonable that they will survive the winter if I dump them out of the pots to plant and over winter them in that location. But I am still concerned about the rooted cuttings that have been staying alive in 6 inch pots under my oak tree. They look healthy now, and I know I need to take them out from under so much shade. The fact that their main leader trunks are only about 1/32 or just slightly thicker, makes me doubt that they can survive our outside winter condtions, even when they go dormant. I do not have a greenhouse, but should I find someone with one, who is willing to over winter these 4 smallest ones in their greenhouse for me?

Did you buy them and plant them recently? WIthin the last 2-3 weeks? Rose of Sharon can slightly protest when being transplanted or moved. Mabey they were rootbound. When you planted them and removed them from the pot, did they have alot of roots? a whole lot? Did you plant them in full sun? They won't bloom as well if they aren't in full sun. There are sooo many variables, whatever you do, if you planted them recently, don't feed them. Just water them deeply. They will be alright, they are resilient. You can still get blooms yet. Weird the nursery didn't try to help you. If you bought them at Home Depot or Lowes, they could have bugs, spray them down real good with a hose every day to make sure the foliage is nice and clean. Good Luck. You made a fine choice with Blue satin, they are gorgeous!

"Shake and Bake" refers to the nickname given to the state of California, which it is not only named for, but it is the state flower for :) California is often referred to as "Shake and Bake, USA WELL DUH!...lol, FANNA WHO IS Hysterical laughing at herself for FORGETTING THIS FACT about Callie! See I am afraid to TRY any Poppy for breadseed because what if someone sends one they THINK is safe and it isn't? JASMINE, I ACCIDENTLY TYPED THE WRONG NUMBER! All is WELL it WAS Margos I was working on and since I believe I meanted the gift she gave me it was clear it was just a slip of the finger or brainwave or something along those lines..... Lisa I stayed up last night til 5:00 am or would that be stayed up this morning til? Oh well, which ever that is what I did. It is just a matter of me bring ODC and can't stop until I feel HAPPY with the results....lol!!! WOW you all are sending in some REALLY REALLY good stuff!!! Wendy, thanks for my GIFT...I will be on a CHOCOLATE high tonight, haha! That was so sweet of you to think of me, thanks again. I am actaully taking a breather at this minute to eat supper then I will get back to the seeds. :) Fran I will go ahead and post #11 thread!