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The Kitchen Table

Speaking of 'Rose of Sharon' plant

16 years ago

Someone mentioned Rose of Sharon on the "name this plant" post and I thought I'd ask about it here.We have a line of them between the front yard and the neighbor's driveway.I didn't even know what they were until I saw one at the nursery one day.A couple of months ago when the Iris were blooming I cut a couple of pretty ones and put them in an empty plastic bottle that I had saved and cut a few branches from the Rose of Sharon and stuck them in with the Iris for greenery.When the Iris "passed away" I took them out and just left the branches in the water because they were still pretty and green.A couple of weeks ago I started to throw them away and noticed they had little spidery roots coming out below the water line in the vase so I just added water and left them.They are still pretty and green,have grown about an inch and even look like they are about to bloom.What I was wondering is will they grow if I plant them in soil or maybe in a pot? I know I could just plant them and see but then they might die.I would rather just keep them in the water.

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Comments (11)

jannie
16 years ago
I have Rose of Sharon throughout my yard. All along one side plus "volunteers" in other spots. They are very hardy. You can cut off a branch, stick it in a deep hole and add water and it will root.
susan_on
16 years ago
They should probably grow if you take good care of them. Those roots are "water roots", and some people say they are no good for potting and some people say they're fine. I feel that they will be fine until the regular roots grow if you keep them on the damp side for a bit.
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I agree with Wally,that if you want the same plant that you have,cuttings are the best way,or a friend has one you like.but if you want to cross polinate and come up with a new one then seeds.I dont agree that its the best way to produce more plants.I can plant thousands of seed in the winter and by spring have thousands of plants here is how I do cuttings of hibiscus.Both ways have their good merits.especially since some hibiscus and even the rose of sharons are sterile. Here is a link that might be useful: how I do hibiscus cuttings
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the flower from rose of sharon is beautiful but my neighbor Monique is lazy and does not dead head hers, it spreads everywhere even her own lawn has about 900 seedlings in that area,and they do not care. They are inconsiderate. I had to pull 275 shoots from my grass and now they planted them along the fenceline...I'm sure i will have at least 700 to pull next season. Nothing you spray on them make them die..The seedpods are still there from last year and they dont trim them either. They also have a birch tree that spews seed pods for months clogging my pool, gutters, and branches fall continuously all season long from those trees.I have pulled tons of seedling trees from that as well in my landscape, very invasive! If it was the other way around she would be going ballistic! May the wind blow their way and have them have to clean up after their own problems. Plenty of other plants to plant but they are wealthy and very very cheap.
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heather_on
16 years ago
Yes Rose of Sharon is very easy to grow.
hgl_gaylemarie
16 years ago
Wow! My old house has about 10 large Rose of Sharon in the backyard. It's vacant now, and I should sneak over and get some cuttings. LOL!
trishaw
16 years ago
I have a white one in my yard that I just love. There is a stunning purple one at the garden center I work for. I took two pieces and stuck one in a pot with soil and the other in a water bottle. The heat got the one in the pot, June was not the right time to try that, but the water bottle one is going gang busters. I will transplant it to a pot when it cools down again. They do grow very easily.

Trish
OklaMoni
16 years ago
Just keep it watered daily, and I bet, they will grow. :)

Moni
vala55
16 years ago
I saw one the other day that was trimmed up with only leaves at the top. It looked like a miniature tree with flowers. I love the one with the large white blossom with the dark pink center. I can't have them where I live, no room.
marcy345
16 years ago
I have a solid white one I brought with me when I moved back home. If I remeber right it's called "Diana" and its in full bloom now and I love it. I think its sterile and never knew I could cut some off and reroot it! I haven't seen another one like it here and their all over. I love the purple ones, too and know just where to take a cutting!

Marcy
nicole__
16 years ago
Thanks for the info....never tried that and I'd like to have more of my white one with the red center!!! YIPEE!!
jannie
16 years ago
Rose of Sharon are the same plant as Hibiscus.
vannie
16 years ago
I believe Rose of Sharon is also known as Althea. It may be in the hibiscus family, but I think it's Althea.

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