Paraplu® Red Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus)
Shrub
- Large, showy red flowers attract hummingbirds in summer!
- Upright columnar habit, perfect for building a flowering privacy hedge.
- Deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, & overall low maintenance.
- Zones 5-9, sun, 6-10' tall x 5' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Patent #: PPAF; CBRAF
Common name: Rose of Sharon, althea, hibiscus
Zone: 5-9
Sun exposure: Full sun (6+ hours/day).
Height x width: 6-10′ tall x 5' wide
Flower color: Reddish-pink with white centers
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Proven Winners, low flammability, deer-resistant, pollinator-friendly, privacy & screening, low maintenance, drought-tolerant
Uses: Flower gardens, landscaping, specimen, flowering hedge, pollinator garden, cottage garden.
How to Grow
Light: Performs best in full sun (6+ hours sun per day).
Water: Has average water needs, but will not tolerate wet soil.
Space: 5-6 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.