Rose of Sharon

Hibiscus syriacus

Great as Flowering Hedge
White, Pink, Red, and Violet Colored Flowers
This Shrub Requires Little Pruning
Grows to 8' to 12' tall with 6' to 10' spread
Zones 5 to 9
Can't Ship To: AK, AZ, HI

Click icons for more information Show All Hide All

Zones 5 - 9

Hardiness Zones: Zones 5 - 9
The Rose-of-Sharon can be expected to grow in the zones shown in color in the arborday.org zone map.VIEW MAP

shrub

Type of tree:
The Rose-of-Sharon falls into the following type(s): Shrubs

8' - 12' High

Mature Height:
The Rose-of-Sharon grows to be 8' - 12' feet in height.

6' - 10' Spread

Mature Spread:
The Rose-of-Sharon has a spread of about 6' - 10' at full maturity.

Medium Growth

Growth Rate:
This tree grows at a medium growth rate. [More about this.]

Multiple Exposures

Sun:
This Rose-of-Sharon does well in full sun, partial shade.

Various Soils

Soil:
The Rose-of-Sharon grows in acidic, moist, well drained, wide range soils.

Vase Shape

Shape:
This Rose-of-Sharon has vase shape.

More Info

Attributes:
The Rose of Sharon is valued for its large summer flowers produced at a time when few other plants bloom. It's tolerance of aerosol salt and occasional wet or drought periods make this a fine shrub for many landscapes. It is suited to formal or informal plantings, groupings, shrub borders, hedges and screens. The Rose of Sharon keeps its tight upright form as it grows and requires little pruning. It is a hardy hibiscus and an easy shrub to grow.

Wildlife Value:
Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers.

History/Lore/Use:
The Rose of Sharon is native to China and India. The name hibiscus is from an ancient Greek name for "mallow" for this plant was thought to resemble the mallow blossom. Many cultivars of this species have been introduced.

Leaves:
The leaves are alternate, simple, 3 lobed, ovate to rhomboid, 2-4" long, with an often coarsely tooth margin. Medium to dark green summer color with a poor yellow color in fall.

Flower Color:
Five petaled, single or double, white, pink, red, purple or violet showy flowers on new year's growth

Bloom Time:
time late spring through early fall..

The Rose of Sharon is a deciduous, upright, occasionally spreading shrub or small tree with multiple trunks. The branches grow upright and will not droop except when in flower. The dark green leaves emerge late in the spring. The trumpet shaped flowers are 2-4" across in colors of white, pink, red, violet or purple. The Rose of Sharon requires ample moisture and some protection from midday to afternoon sun to flower at its best. Plant about 2'-3' apart for a single row hedge.

		Spring Shipping		Fall Shipping
Color	Zone	Approximate Ship Dates	Order Deadline	Approximate Ship Dates	Order Deadline
	2	04/15–05/30	05/14	11/01–11/26	11/12
	3	04/15–05/30	05/14	11/01–11/26	11/12
	4	04/15–05/30	05/14	11/01–11/26	11/12
	5	04/15–05/30	05/14	11/01–11/26	11/12
	6	03/19–05/12	05/07	11/01–12/03	11/19
	7	03/11–05/07	04/30	11/05–12/10	11/26
	8	02/26–04/30	04/23	11/05–12/10	11/26
	9	02/26–04/30	04/23	11/05–12/10	11/26
	10	02/26–04/30	04/23	11/05–12/10	11/26

We're sorry, but this tree can't be shipped to AK, AZ, HI , territories, or countries outside the U.S. This is due to the agricultural laws within these locations.

When you order trees from The Arbor Day Foundation, your order is guaranteed to arrive in a good, healthy condition or we'll replace them at no charge. Your trees will be shipped at a suitable time for planting.

Each tree is guaranteed to grow, or we'll replace it at one half the original price, plus shipping and handling.

The benefits of bare-root trees

Our trees are delivered with natural bare roots which have been dipped in hydrating gel prior to shipment to keep the roots moist and healthy. As their abundant, fibrous roots aren't confined by a container, bare-root trees get off to a more vigorous start compared to containerized roots which typically need more time to adjust to transplanting. Bare-root trees typically surpass the size of larger containerized trees in only a few years.

	Standard		Dwarf
	Mature Height	Space Needed	Mature Height	Space Needed
Apple	20' - 25'	35' x 35'	10' **	10' x 10' ++
Peach	20'	20' x 20'	8' - 10'	10' x 10'
Sweet Cherry	30'	20' x 25'	12' - 15'	10' x 10'
Sour Cherry	20'	20' x 20'	8'	10' x 10'
Pear	20'	20' x 20'	12' - 15'	12' x 12'
Apricot	20'	20' x 20'
Plum	20'	20' x 20'	8' - 10'	10' x 10'
			** semi-dwarf 12' - 15' ++ semi-dwarf 12' x 12'

Natural Root and Containerized Trees

Natural root (also called bare root) trees are shipped without soil around their roots. They are shipped when dormant in the spring and fall seasons. We dip the roots in a hydrating gel to keep them moist during shipping.

There are a number of advantages to natural root trees:

They are very affordable.
Their roots re-establish themselves well once they are planted in their permanent location.
They are easy to plant at the correct depth.

The Urban Horticulture Institute at Cornell University has an interesting article about the benefits of planting natural root trees. Look for the PDF entitled Creating the Urban Forest: The Bare Root Method

Potted (also called containerized) trees come in 4" containers.

If you have questions, please call (888) 448-7337 or E-mail Member Services.

We inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.

10 Free Trees

Tree Nursery