skip to main content

Hardy Hibiscus/ Rose of Sharon Dormancy

Tiffany Marshall

13 years ago

I have read that the Hardy Hibiscus/Rose of Sharon are late and one of the last plants to come up in the spring. Once we had a hardy hibiscus tree long ago that bloomed all season, we covered for winter, and it didn't come up the next spring so the parents yoinked it out. Now reading that they come up late I am thinking the one we had probably wasn't dead after all. I am in zone 5a, northeastern IL, so I am wondering about people in this zone, about what month do you expect yours to start showing life? I am thinking of getting one to try again to replace my butterfly bush, since the bush grows slow and sparse each year, it looks like an empty gap between the joe pye weed and the swamp milkweed.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

tomva
13 years ago
rose of sharons will get leaves very early just when trees get leaves,they dont come up they are already up maybe diff. in zone 5 but here in zone 7 they get leaves in early april.my rose of sharons are blooming now
Vicki
13 years ago
Rose of Sharon in this zone starts showing life in May, well after trees start leafing out, and blooms in Mid August. This year however, must be a really freaky year. I woke up this morning to fine 2 blooms on mine. I have never seen them bloom this early. I even pruned mine back, then transplanted it bareroot in April of this year and it bounced right back at the usual time in May as though nothing had been done to it. Maybe that's why the early bloom, I don't know. I've never seen anyone is this zone cover them for the winter. Don't think that would be necessary but yes, I suspect your tree/shrub years ago was still alive.
Related Discussions
Have: Wisteria, Hardy Hibiscus & Rose of Sharon
Q
Comments (4)
Hi, am interested in your Rose of Sharon Blue Satin. I traded for some seeds last year but none of them germinated. Please check my list for a possible trade. thanks
...See More
What 'Rose of Sharon' Type Hibiscus Do You Recommend?
Q
Comments (26)
JMC- Blue satin is the most beautiful true blue ROS flower I have ever seen. The foilage is darker green than Lavender Chiffon, looks tropical, and it grows a little faster also. It is a single, sterile flower. I loved it sooo much I also ordered a Violet satin and the flowers on that were incredible! Brandon, I bought both of them through a licensed nursery that always sells on Ebay. THey are a nursery though, and sell proven winners of soooo many plants. They were both healthy and I didn't pay over 9.99 for them. They grew quite nicely also. Do a search on Ebay under Rose of Sharon Blue satin and you will find them. They are propular. GOod Luck!
...See More
OT Hibiscus or rose of Sharon?
Q
Comments (11)
MIke lol....Yes I love that one too. That is why I tried to root a lot from that one. But this one just did not want to root. All I got moslty is the light pink/purple double ROS ardens one. Even the light pink did not want to root easily. About the sock MIke...I keep that in mind. No wonder Kristy and I are getting along so great hahahahaha hmm I just dug out something about the name of this shrub. Well I THINK, that a rose of Sharon falls under the more general species of Hibiscus? Could that be? I have 0 knowledge :-( But the old order for the rose of Sharon *Ardens*...now i have one name already :-) some 15 years ago says: Hibiscus.....rose of Sharon *Ardens* H. syriacus. Ok I am going to fix that in the trade list. Lucy
...See More
Rose of Sharon (aka Althea, Hibiscus syriacus) zone 10?
Q
Comments (5)
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.
...See More

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Hibiscus Moscheutos

By Falon Mihalic

Crimsoneyed rosemallow is an ideal flowering perennial for wet sites and is ready to propagate now

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Hibiscus Syriacus ‘Sugar Tip’

As pretty as a party dress, ‘Sugar Tip’ has layers of pink that catch the eyes of butterflies

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Top Native Plants for the U.S. Southeast

By Falon Mihalic

For a low-maintenance and wildlife-friendly landscape, use Southern natives that withstand heat and humidity

GARDENING GUIDES Houzz Call: What’s Your Favorite Backyard Beauty?

By Stacy Briscoe

The simple, honest daisy is this writer’s go-to garden flower. We want to hear which plant, flowering or otherwise, gives you special joy

GARDENING GUIDES 8 Flowers That Hummingbirds Adore

To draw those mesmerizing little birds to your garden or doorstep, plant these flowers that are attractive in more ways than one

GARDENING GUIDES Backyard Birds: Invite Entertaining Hummingbirds Into Your Garden

By Habitat Network

Hummingbirds — unique to the Americas — zip through open landscapes seasonally or year-round. Here’s how to attract them

HOUSEPLANTS Outsmart Winter — Make Houseplants of Your Garden Growers

By creative jewish mom.com

No need to watch Jack Frost play Wreck the Rosemary. Bring your garden inside for the winter, using containers and these guidelines

LANDSCAPE DESIGN An Artist’s Garden Delights With Beauty and Whimsy

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Step into this Phoenix garden, where history, color and the unexpected are waiting to be discovered

Sponsored

Davidson Builders

1 Review

Franklin County's Full-Scale General Contractor