How do you plant Althea bushes
Matthew Martinez
Updated on April 19, 2026
Shrub Althea is best planted into rich, well-draining, slightly acidic soil in a full sun to part shade location. The rose of Sharon bush prefers moist, well-draining soil, although it will tolerate most soil conditions except those that are soggy or extremely dry.
How do you plant a rose of Sharon bush?
- Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and 2 times wider.
- Remove the plant gently from its nursery pot and loosen the soil around the roots.
- Set the plant into the hole with the top of the root ball at soil level or slightly above.
Are Rose of Sharon and Althea the same?
The Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) also known as an Althea shrub is a mid summer bloomer in white, pink, red, or purple with a red center. You can also find them ruffled in the same array of co…
How far apart to plant rose of Sharon?
- Hardiness Zones. The rose-of-sharon can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 5–9.
- Tree Type.
- Mature Size. The rose-of-sharon grows to a height of 8–12′ and a spread of 6–10′ at maturity.
- Growth Rate. …
- Sun Preference. …
- Soil Preference. …
- Attributes. …
- Wildlife Value.
How fast does Althea grow?
Arbor Day Foundation notes that Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) grows up to 24 inches each year until it reaches its mature height of 8 to 12 feet. Also called althea plant or shrub althaea, Rose of Sharon sports showy single or double flowers that bloom in summer.
Do rose of Sharon have deep roots?
The rose of Sharon’s root system is pretty shallow, so you shouldn’t have to dig in too deep. Take a chainsaw or gardening shears and chop off all the branches and suckers. Then, cut the rose of Sharon down to the soil. Using pruning shears or a shovel, dig up all of the roots that you see.
Will Althea grow in shade?
Double Althea does best in full sun; however, it can do well with partial shade. You should have plenty of room for your althea to grow because these plants like to spread. Each one needs at least 6 feet of space around it to allow ample room for expansion.
Can I plant rose of Sharon in the summer?
Not in the summer or winter. Your plants will be stressed if you try to transplant them when the weather is too hot or cold. … It stresses a plant to move it during the growing season, and it will take longer to establish in the new location. It’s best to plan on transplanting a Rose of Sharon shrub in autumn.What is the best time to plant rose of Sharon?
Plant rose of Sharon in spring or fall. The plants tend to leaf out a bit late in springtime, so don’t be alarmed if yours gets off to a slow start. Space the plants 6 to 10 feet apart; read the tag or label for the exact spacing.
Where is the best place to plant rose of Sharon?For spectacular flowers and easy care, plant your Rose of Sharon in a spot with good drainage and full sun to partial shade. In northern climates, six or more hours of direct daily sun promotes maximum blooms.
Article first time published onCan you plant rose of Sharon near House?
Planting Distance From the Foundation In general, a tall shrub like a Rose of Sharon is best planted in a shrub border or in a mass planting at least 4 to 5 feet away from the house foundation, where the plant can broaden its branches unhampered. A dwarf cultivar can be planted 2 to 4 feet from the foundation.
Do hummingbirds like rose of Sharon?
Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus, isn’t a rose, but its large, flat blossoms and nectar attract hummingbirds and tiny insects that hummers also eat. The flowers on this woody shrub come in several colors, including white, pink, purple, and red.
Why is Rose of Sharon bad?
Growing Rose of Sharon The shrub may occasionally suffer from pests like Japanese beetles and aphids and diseases like blights, canker and leaf spots. … Its ability to thrive despite poor conditions that may cause problems for other plant species is one of the things that contribute to the shrub’s invasiveness.
Is Althea invasive?
A: Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) — also known as Althea — is a beautiful shrub but it can also be quite invasive. Unlike bamboo, the Rose of Sharon spreads via its ample and easily germinated seeds. … This type of herbicide is non-selective; it kills any germinating seed.
Is Althea a perennial?
BotanicalHibiscus syriacusBloomtimeLate Summer-Fall
What Kills Rose of Sharon bushes?
Of course, chemicals can be used to kill rose of Sharon seedlings. A herbicide formulated for woody plants, such as Bioadvance’s brush killer or Ortho’s Ground Clear will do the job. These are non-selective plant killers, though, so you need to be very careful in how you apply them.
Will deer eat Althea?
Grow the Rose of Sharon in full sun to part shade. … It prefers moist well-drained soil but is drought tolerant once established. It’s hardy in zones 5 to 9, tends to be deer resistant and tolerates the black walnut’s toxic juglone.
When should I take cuttings from Althea?
- Fill a planting pot with a soilless planting mix. …
- Choose a new stem to use as a cutting. …
- Snip off all the leaves, with the exception of two at the top of the cutting.
How do you prune Althea bushes?
- Remove all branches that grow inwards so that the shrub can filter light through the inside.
- After that, cut remaining stems back by about ⅔, just above an outward-facing bud. This means 1/3rd of the branch remains on the tree.
How big do Althea get?
Also known as shrub Althea, this 9- to 12-foot (2.5 to 3.5 m.) specimen is a native of eastern Asia that is well adapted to growing in most USDA plant hardiness zones. It often reaches a spread of 10 feet (3 m.) and can be used as part of a growing privacy border.
How big do Althea trees get?
You can expect it to reach heights of 8-12 feet, with a width of 6-10 feet. This tree flourishes in full sun. It thrives in Growing Zones 5-9 and in various soil conditions. The Pink Althea is a beautiful centerpiece to any garden.
What is the lifespan of a Rose of Sharon?
A cold-hardy, drought-resistant shrub, Rose of Sharon can productively produce blooms for 20 to 30 years.
Can I cut Rose of Sharon to the ground?
In general, prune all stems back to the second swelling bud from the ground from late winter until the plant produces leaves; don’t cut Rose of Sharon to the ground completely. The plant can be cut to one-half its size in late spring if you want a fuller shrub with large blooms.
What's the difference between a hibiscus and a rose of sharon?
Growth Habit Chinese hibiscus shrubs mature anywhere from 3 to 10 feet tall and equally as wide. Typically they look rounded or as upright ovals. Modern cultivars display variable growth habits, from sprawling mounds to open or dense ovals. Rose-of-Sharon plants become more erect but oval in comparison.
Does rose of sharon produce seeds?
Rose of sharon seeds grow in pods with five lobes, with three to five seeds forming in each lobe. The seed pods will become brown and dry when they are ripe, then each lobe will split open and disperse the seeds. … If rose of sharon seed pods are harvested too early, they may not ripen or produce viable seed.
Will rose of sharon bloom first year?
Growth. Some shrubs take several years to form flowers, but Rose of Sharon starts blooming within 1 to 2 years. This shrub grows quickly, and in warm, mild climates can grow 20 feet tall if left unpruned. The flowers form on new growth.
What does rose of Sharon look like in the winter?
The rose of Sharon in fall loses its leaves, showing only bare branches and stems during winter. A newly planted rose of Sharon might experience some die-back of the current season’s stems or small branches during winter, but an established plant generally comes through winter undamaged.
Should you cut back rose of Sharon?
Some people prefer to prune Rose of Sharon in winter, when there are no leaves on the plant, so they can readily see the shrub’s structure — and this is just fine. However, I prefer to prune my Rose of Sharon just after it blooms in late summer.
Are rose of Sharon poisonous to dogs?
In most cases, hibiscus is non-toxic for pets, but the Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a type of hibiscus that can be harmful to your furry friend. If a dog ingests a significant amount of this hibiscus’ flower, they can experience nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Do Wasps like Rose of Sharon?
This beloved shrub has gorgeous flowers that attract wildlife in droves, including butterflies and hummingbirds. And plenty more I didn’t capture photos of, including other varieties of bees, wasps, and flies.
Do bees and butterflies like Rose of Sharon?
Rose of sharon shrubs are much loved for their large, prolific, tropical-looking blooms in late summer. … Besides gardeners, these blooms are attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.