Red Rose of Sharon Althea Live Plant – Hibiscus Syriacus – Quart Pot

Overview

Introduce a touch of elegance and vibrant color to your garden with the stunning red rose of Sharon live plant. This beautiful and hardy flowering shrub, scientifically known as Hibiscus syriacus, is a cherished addition to any landscape, offering a spectacular display of red blossoms throughout the summer months. Originating from south-central and southeast China, the rose of Sharon has found its way into gardens worldwide, admired for its resilience and prolific flowering. This particular specimen arrives as a healthy, thriving plant in a quart pot, perfectly sized for transplanting into your garden or a larger container. Its common names include Syrian ketmia, shrub althea, and rose mallow, reflecting its widespread recognition and beauty. As a deciduous shrub, it provides seasonal interest, shedding its leaves in winter and bursting back to life with lush foliage and abundant flowers from summer into fall. The red rose of Sharon live plant is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a low-maintenance yet high-impact perennial, promising years of enjoyment and visual delight.

Whether you’re looking to create a vibrant hedge, add a focal point to your flower beds, or simply enjoy a continuous flush of color, the red rose of Sharon live plant is an outstanding selection. It’s known for its robust nature and ability to adapt to various soil conditions, making it suitable for a wide range of gardening expertise levels. Its long blooming period ensures that your garden remains lively and attractive when many other plants have finished their show. This plant is a testament to natural beauty and enduring charm, promising years of enjoyment and visual delight.

Key Benefits

The red rose of Sharon live plant offers a multitude of benefits, making it a highly desirable choice for gardeners. Its striking appearance and easy care contribute to its popularity and widespread use in diverse landscapes.

• Spectacular Summer Blooms: Enjoy a prolonged display of large, showy red flowers from summer through fall, adding continuous vibrant color to your garden when many other plants are fading. These abundant blossoms are a true highlight of the growing season, enhancing curb appeal and garden aesthetics. The red rose of Sharon live plant ensures your garden stays lively.
• Hardy and Resilient: This Althea shrub is known for its exceptional hardiness, thriving in a wide range of conditions and proving resilient against common pests and diseases. It is a robust plant that can withstand various environmental stressors, making it a reliable choice for long-term garden enjoyment.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, the red rose of Sharon live plant requires minimal care, making it an ideal option for busy gardeners or those new to planting. It tolerates different soil types and is relatively drought-tolerant, reducing the need for constant attention.
• Attracts Pollinators: The vibrant flowers are a magnet for hummingbirds, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, contributing to the biodiversity and health of your garden ecosystem. Watching these creatures interact with your rose of Sharon adds another layer of enjoyment.
• Versatile Landscaping Use: Perfect for use as a specimen plant, in mixed borders, as a privacy screen, or even in large containers. Its upright growth habit and dense foliage make it suitable for various garden designs. The versatility of the Hibiscus syriacus plant allows for creative landscaping solutions.
• Deer Resistant: Generally, deer tend to avoid the rose of Sharon, which is a significant advantage for gardeners in areas where deer browse is a concern. This allows the plant to flourish without being damaged by wildlife.
• Long-Lived Perennial: This beautiful shrub is a long-term investment, providing many years of beauty and enjoyment in your garden. Its perennial nature means it will return year after year, growing more magnificent with age.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your red rose of Sharon live plant is straightforward, ensuring a healthy and flourishing shrub with abundant blooms. To ensure successful growth and a vibrant display, understanding its basic needs is key. The first step for planting rose of Sharon is selecting the right location. It thrives best in full sun to partial shade, meaning it needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day for optimal flowering. While it can tolerate some shade, too little sun may result in fewer blooms. Ensure the planting site has good air circulation to prevent fungal issues.

When it comes to soil, the Althea shrub care routine suggests well-draining soil is crucial. It can adapt to a variety of soil types, including clay, loam, or sand, as long as drainage is adequate. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter to improve drainage and aeration. Once established, the rose of Sharon is relatively drought-tolerant, but regular watering is beneficial, especially during dry spells and in its first year of growth. Water deeply and consistently to encourage strong root development. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer designed for flowering shrubs to promote vigorous growth and prolific blooming. Pruning can be done in late winter or early spring to shape the plant, remove dead or damaged branches, and encourage new growth and more flowers. This also helps maintain the desired size and form of the Hibiscus syriacus plant. Minimal pruning is required, making it an easy-care option.

The red rose of Sharon live plant is remarkably resilient and generally free from serious pests and diseases. However, keep an eye out for common issues like aphids, which can be easily managed with insecticidal soap. Powdery mildew can sometimes occur in humid conditions or areas with poor air circulation; ensuring proper spacing and pruning can help prevent this. The plant is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9, meaning it can withstand winter temperatures in these regions. In colder zones, it may benefit from winter protection or can be grown in containers and brought indoors. With these simple care tips, your hardy flowering shrub will thrive and provide a spectacular show year after year.

Size & Details

This offering includes one healthy red rose of Sharon live plant, carefully grown and shipped in a quart pot. This size is ideal for transplanting, allowing the plant to quickly establish itself in your garden or a larger container. At the time of shipment, the plant typically measures approximately 6-12 inches tall, with a well-developed root system ready for growth. The ultimate size of the rose of Sharon can vary depending on growing conditions and pruning habits, but it typically matures into a shrub reaching 8-12 feet in height and 6-10 feet in width. Its growth rate is moderate, meaning it will establish and fill out your garden space at a steady pace.

The Hibiscus syriacus plant will typically begin flowering in its first or second year after planting, providing beautiful blooms throughout the summer and into the fall. The plant is shipped with care to ensure it arrives in optimal condition, ready for its new home. Expect a robust and vigorous plant that will quickly acclimate to its environment. Its deciduous nature means it will shed leaves in winter, preparing for new growth in spring. This hardy flowering shrub is a long-term investment, providing years of beauty and enjoyment as it matures and fills out its space in your landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The red rose of Sharon live plant typically grows to a height of 8-12 feet and a width of 6-10 feet at maturity. Its size can be managed with annual pruning to maintain a more compact form if desired.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: This plant is shipped in a quart pot, which is a suitable size for establishing a healthy root system before transplanting it into your garden or a larger container.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The red rose of Sharon live plant is primarily an outdoor shrub. It is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9, making it suitable for outdoor landscapes in these regions. While it can be grown in containers, it generally thrives best when planted in the ground.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This plant performs best in full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal flowering. More sun generally leads to more abundant blooms.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Althea shrub care is considered low-maintenance. Once established, it is quite resilient and tolerant of various conditions, making it an excellent choice for both experienced and novice gardeners.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your red rose of Sharon live plant will arrive as a healthy, actively growing plant in its quart pot, carefully packaged to ensure its safe journey and readiness for planting.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time for planting rose of Sharon is in spring or early fall, allowing the plant sufficient time to establish its root system before extreme weather conditions.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The Hibiscus syriacus plant is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9. If you are within these zones, it will typically survive winter outdoors. In colder zones, some winter protection may be beneficial, or it can be grown in a container and moved indoors.
• Q: Does this plant attract pollinators? A: Yes, the vibrant red flowers of the rose of Sharon are highly attractive to various pollinators, including hummingbirds and butterflies, contributing to a lively garden ecosystem.
• Q: What kind of soil does it prefer? A: The rose of Sharon prefers well-draining soil but is adaptable to various soil types, including sandy, loamy, or clay soils, as long as they are not waterlogged. Good drainage is key for optimal growth.