I live in Canada in a city in Ontario. I believe that I am in Zone 6. I have had Rose of Sharon at my home for a couple of decades. I have pink, purple and white with a red throat, but one day one of my seedlings turned out to have a white bloom with a white throat. My backyard has too much shade and root competition and the Rose of Sharons there have been slow to grow, but my pink one is mature. I also have three Rose of Sharons at the side of my house, located against my brick wall and close to my neighbor's property. It is there that they grow beautifully, with abundant blooms, beginning early. There is a huge difference between these Rose of Sharon and the ones in my backyard. I have determined that the Rose of Sharons require at least several hours of sun or more and a sheltered spot is ideal. I have been growing Rose of Sharon from seed and have found that the shrub will produce blooms in the third year of growth. But last year I decided to take two cuttings from my friend's double Rose of Sharon (hibiscus syriacus). It turned out to be an interesting experiment. Both cuttings "took" and I overwintered the cuttings in my house. Early spring they developed dust mites. When it was warm enough to put them outside in their pots, I did that. They were sprayed for the dust mites. I think the pesticide was too strong for the plant and the leaves curled up. But I proceeded to nuture them! This is what amazed me: the cuttings are quite small (maybe 10 inches high and one of them has buds on it! Now mind you the leaves still don't look that great, but I looking forward to seeing the bloom. My conclusion: much better to take cuttings. I am thinking that by next year the leaves should look "normal."

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.

Whaas, These are the only ones I grow. They clean themselves and keep blooming all summer. The single flower types puts out seed and then stops unless you cut off all the seed pods. They the seeds spurt all over the place. I don't know names due some change them. but I have the purple ones, the white ones with and without variegated leaves a dark purple one with variegated leaves but the buds don't fully open on this one. I have the red, white/red and just bought a blue one. I also lost the blue on last spring frost. It was young and not hardy enough to survive. Link to where I buy mine from. http://hirts-gardens.hostedbywebstore.com/Plants-Products/b/2260965011

There is no need to worry about being invasive. That is unless you do not pay attention as those seedlings are easy to kill or transplant. Plus all you have to do is harvest those seed pods before they turn brown.