Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus 'America Irene Scott' SUGAR TIP) is a vigorous, upright shrub that blooms from June through October with showy, hollyhock-like flowers reaching 3 inches across. Hardy in zones 5 through 8, it grows 5 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide, thriving in full sun to partial shade with moderate water needs and low maintenance. This deciduous shrub tolerates drought, poor soils, clay, black walnut, and deer browsing, while attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and birds throughout its extended bloom season.
Partial Sun
Moderate
5-8
96in H x 72in W
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Moderate
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The flowers steal the show: five-petaled blooms with a prominent, showy staminal column at the center create a continuous display from early summer through fall. Deer won't touch it, and it laughs in the face of drought and urban pollution. The vase-shaped, multi-stemmed form grows upright and controlled, making it simple to manage without constant fussing, and you can train it as a small tree or espalier if you want something more sculptural.
Rose of Sharon thrives as a hedge or naturalized planting, where its long bloom period and wildlife appeal create movement and color throughout the growing season. Its ability to tolerate poor conditions and deer pressure makes it a reliable foundation shrub for landscapes where other plants struggle.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Seeds germinate at temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Start indoors in late winter if you want to propagate from seed, though seedlings may not flower with the exact same color as the parent plant.
Prune to shape in spring to maintain the upright, vase-shaped form. For larger blooms, cut back to 2 to 3 buds in late winter before growth resumes. The multi-stemmed habit responds well to light shaping pruning and can be trained as a small tree with selective pruning of lower branches if desired.
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