Grow Rose of Sharon to nourish your soul

In John Steinbeck's novel, “The Grapes of Wrath,” the character Rose of Sharon is portrayed in stereotypes, as she is transformed by pregnancy from a “hoyden” – a high-spirited girl – into a secretive and mysterious adult. This prepares readers for her role as a savior when she nourishes a starving stranger.

In the garden, the Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a deciduous hibiscus species that transforms from a plain shrub to a showy adult covered with blooms in summer and fall. The 3-inch-wide flowers have a delicate, paper-like texture, with five petals that bloom in a wide range of colors, even bicolors. Blossoms display a prominent stamen and usually have a dark-colored throat. There are even double-flowered Rose of Sharon varieties with carnation-like blossoms.

With minimal care, they will live up to 20 to 30 years. The shrub has a natural upright vase shape with many branches that can be pruned into a tree form if desired.

Even though Rose of Sharon is a spectacular, easy-to-grow shrub, it also spreads its seeds easily and is considered invasive in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia. You can keep it from spreading by deadheading flowers before they have a chance to go to seed.

You can plant Rose of Sharon in the spring or fall. It grows moderately fast at a rate of 12 to 24 inches per year, eventually reaching a mature height of 8 to 12 feet.

Rose of Sharon is usually grown as a specimen, hedge, or foundation plant. Set individual Rose of Sharon shrubs 6 to 10 feet apart where they will get full sun. They do best in rich, well-draining soil but will survive even in poor soil. They grow well in urban conditions, and tolerate heat, high humidity and drought. 

Rose of Sharon makes a wonderful hedge. A garden hedge can form a natural-looking barrier that not only blocks an unsightly view but also filters out air pollution and even absorbs sound, cutting down on street noise. For an easy-blooming, thick hedge, place Rose of Sharon plants 2 to 3 feet apart in a double row. While the young plants will need regular watering to help them get started, mature plants only need watering during severe drought.

Because this shrub grows naturally into an attractive vase-like shape, it doesn’t need much pruning. Rose of Sharon blooms on new wood, so only prune it in late winter or very early spring to avoid cutting off any flower buds. Pruning back the tips of the stems will encourage more branching and more blooms.

You can easily propagate Rose of Sharon with softwood stem cuttings. They root easiest in midsummer. Use cuttings the size of a pencil, 4- to 6-inches long. Remove any leaves from the bottom half of the stem and dip the cut end into rooting hormone.

Plant a Rose of Sharon as a specimen or an easy-to-grow hedge, and you will have years of blooms. It will nourish your soul, much like Steinbeck's Rose of Sharon nourished a starving stranger.