The blooms and twiggy growth pattern makes me think it is some sort of "china" rose. Where approx to you live? Do you know your climate zone? Chinas love heat, hate cold. Will bloom continuously for months and months if they are happy. Just my opinion, but if this were my rose here is what I would do: 1) Don't worry about pruning it - chinas don't need pruning, especially not at this point when it is under so much stress. If a cane is obviously completely dead, OK to take off but not necessary. 2) Weed ALL of the stuff that it not rose away from the bottom of the plant - out to at least 20". 3) WATER it well, for a couple of days. 4) Scrub off all of that white stuff (looks like some sort of scale planted and being attended by ants - yes, they do keep farm animals). Then, spray it with something that kills scale. In the middle of winter you can also spray it with a dormant spray, to keep them from coming back, but not now. 5) Put some sort of timed release rose food around the base of the rose - out to the same 20 inches - I use Osmacote. Follow the directions - water it in. 6) Put some sort of mulch around the base of the bush - 2-3 inches deep, also out to the same 20 inches. DO NOT let the mulch touch the base of the rose - keep it about 2" away. 7) Make sure you water it well at least once a week, unless you live somewhere where it rains a lot. 8) Stand back, and watch it - it should start doing better within a month. Keep checking it for scale and removing it. Good Luck - this could be a really nice rose. Jackie

Hi everybody, Rose of Sharon or Hibiscus Syriacus have got to be the plant who is the very last to send out leaves. You simply must be patient even if it seems dead and it's June. It's just that late. It's a hibiscus after all and why should it send out leaves until it's darned sure there won't be any more frosts or cool weather to harm those beautiful flowers. I've even grown one here in Canada's zone 5. It was a Blue Bird and out of zone. It took several attempts and several sites. It did really well up until last year at over 6 feet it finally died. It had blooms beginning early August. We've been growing them at my parents home near Brantford for about 30 years. The trick to having them bloom early is to let them grow. The older the plant the longer the bloom season and the earlier they start. I currently have a few babies from southern ontario that came from my brother's house. They survived one winter in the back yard, but I really ought to bring them to the south side of the house where the last one did so well. Sorry, I can't remember how many years before you get the height. As I recall, one year they just suddenly take off. It would depend on your zone, but I'd say give it 3 years or so. Mary

Alison, your rose wants to be outside at some point (late April, if it can last that long). Roses are not house plants. Your rose isn't getting enough light, might be overwatered (or underwatered, they don't want to be too wet or dry), and needs more humidity. Take a look at the thread linked below, it gives good info on reviving "grocery store" minis. They make excellent outdoor plants, BTW. Here is a link that might be useful: How to save a potted gift rose

Thank you! I will look into the oil! Was it supposed to be neem oil? i did have a NASTY infestation of aphids and Japanese beetles. Didn’t see any on these but that could be because they got hit first