Sugar Tip® Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus)
Shrub
- Fluffy double, summer flowering beauty.
- Attracts hummingbirds and pollinators.
- Creates few nuisance seedlings.
- Zones 5-9, sun, 6' tall x 6' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Patent: PP20,579
Common name: Rose of Sharon, althea, hibiscus
Zone: 5 - 9
Sun exposure: Full Sun
Height x width: 5 – 6’ tall x 4 - 6’ wide
Flower color: Pink
Foliage color: Variegated Green
Season of Interest: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Proven Winners, privacy & screening, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, deer resistant
Uses: Flower gardens, landscaping, specimen, flowering hedge, pollinator garden, cottage garden
How to Grow
Light: Will perform best if planted in full sun.
Water: Has average water needs, but will not tolerate sogginess.
Space: 3 feet apart
Fertilizing: Has rather high fertility needs. It is best to fertilize in early spring, once the ground has thawed, with a granular rose or flowering shrub fertilizer.
Winterizing: No special treatment is required.
Maintenance: Rose of Sharon does not need regular pruning, but may be pruned or trimmed in early spring if desired. Note: rose of Sharon is late to leaf out in spring. That doesn't mean it's dead! Be patient.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
I planted this little guy about 2 months ago, zone 7a in full sun, fertilized lightly. I had to water frequently (almost daily) for the first month, particularly on dry days or hot days, as the leaves wilted/dropped with any heat/drought stress. It seems to have established itself now and doesn't need as much care. Nice variegated leaves and has set some flower buds. Overall pleased and can't believe this plant will get to 6 ft tall and wide!
I gave this shrub a 3-star review not long after I received it, solely based on the tiny size of the plant I received and the incredibly slow speed at which it was growing. Well, it looks like it just needed some time to settle in, because now it's growing beautifully. I can't wait to see this fill out and then bloom next year! I've ordered multiple plants from Great Garden Plants and I have to say, the quality of the plants, and the packaging, really is impressive.
The shrub arrived in good condition but extremely small (there was only one size option available). I bought it at the same time as an ornamental cherry blossom that's growing like gangbusters. This one, however, has barely grown at all. I'm really hoping it gets a growth spurt soon as the leaves are very pretty and it will give year-round interest on my deck.
I have searched everywhere for this specific Rose of Sharon due to it’s variegated leaves and beautiful blossom and thrilled that your company had it. Great quality and thriving when I received it and ordered a second one!
Great healthy green plants. Shipping was excellent they came in perfect.
I am disappointed with the size of the plants. They looked healthy but they were pruned close to about 6 inches from the base of the plant. All three Rose of Sharons are struggling to recover. No new growths. Not sure if they make through. Very unhappy.
We’re sorry you’re not satisfied with your plants! On each product page and our plant sizes page, we note that all of our plants are young. The size of our plants varies depending on the time of year and whether they were recently trimmed. The most important thing when purchasing plants, online or in garden centers, is a full and robust root system, which we prioritize. Trimming only encourages stronger root development! All orders are covered by our 60-day guarantee, so please reach out to [email protected] to start the claims process if necessary.
My rose tree arrived in wonderful condition. It even had little buds on it. I watered it and put it in a cool place. Two days later I transplanted it and put it outside in a morning sun area. It was doing very well. However, I left town for a week and my husband was going to water it. The temperature got up to 107 degrees and the painters of our house moved it into complete sunlight. Also, I’m not sure if my husband watered it as he should have. When I got home, all that remained were two dry “stems” and no leaves. I’ve been taking care of it for a week now, and little green leaves are coming back! I think it will make it. All other plants I’ve ordered here are doing very well.
Arrived in good condition. Settled in and doing great. Your plants are the BEST!l!
Two of three plants show some life. One is totally gone.
I just repoted it it in to 3 gallon pots. And looking at it yesterday it’s got buds yaaaa it’s a beautiful plant thank u
I had been trying to find rose of Sharon plants for months. I knew what I wanted but no local nursery had any. What I saw online was just too expensive, but I was determined to keep trying. Finally I found Great Garden Plants! They had exactly what I wanted at a reasonable price. All four of my plants looked great when they arrived and two of them have already flowered, while one has several buds.
My experience was flawless and I can’t wait to see how these lovely plants grow into beautiful trees!
Prompt shipping. Plants are as advertised. Healthy. Growing well. One Rose of Sharon is already blooming. This is a good deal. Plants are fairly priced. Customer service is good.
When is the best time to Move Sugar Tip Rose Sharon to a new location in Connecticut?
The best time to transplant rose of Sharon is when it is still dormant in late fall or early spring. You can read our gardening article all about Rose of Sharon for more information:
https://blog.greatgardenplants.com/questions-answered-series-rose-of-sharon-hibiscus/
Will this live though the winter
If rose of Sharon is planted in the optimial growing zone and conditions, it should most certaintly survive the winter. No special winterizing treatment is required to keep this plant alive during the winter months and ready to leaf out in late spring. Rose of Sharon does not need regular pruning, but may be pruned or trimmed in early spring if desired.
I bought this rose of Sharon last spring, and it thrived, with beautiful blooms. This year, we're into May and it still hasn't leafed out. I know in the details it says this is late to leaf in spring, and not to panic, but I'm really concerned the plant is dead. I put down rose fertilizer last month, and that caused my climbing rose to leaf out within 2 days, but still nothing for this rose of Sharon. Do you have any advice?
Rose of Sharon do take a very long time in the Spring to show signs of growth. I would wait until the end of May, start of June before assuming the plant is dead!