Overview

Transform your landscape with the exquisite Red Heart Rose of Sharon bare-root plant, a truly captivating addition to any garden. This remarkable deciduous shrub, also known as Hibiscus Syriacus plant, boasts an abundant display of large, hibiscus-like flowers that bring a tropical flair to your outdoor space. Each bloom features pure white petals beautifully contrasted by a rich, ruby-red center, creating a stunning visual impact. Flowering from mid-summer well into fall, sometimes even until frost, this plant provides continuous color when many other plants are fading. Its easy-to-grow nature and long lifespan make it an ideal choice for both novice and experienced gardeners looking for a low-maintenance yet spectacular shrub. Hummingbirds are particularly drawn to its vibrant ‘bullseye’ flowers, making your garden a lively hub of activity.

The Red Heart Rose of Sharon bare-root is delivered ready for planting, offering a robust start for a healthy, thriving shrub. This variety can be grown as a large shrub or trained into a single-trunk tree form, providing versatility in landscape design. Native to South China and Taiwan, the Rose of Sharon (part of the Rose Mallow family) is known for its resilience and adaptability. It can reach impressive heights of 8 to 12 feet and spreads 6 to 10 feet wide, so planning its location with adequate space is essential for its optimal growth and display. Enjoy a season-long spectacle of blooms with this magnificent and charming plant.

Key Benefits

The Red Heart Rose of Sharon bare-root offers numerous advantages for your garden, blending aesthetic appeal with practical benefits:

• Stunning Floral Display: Enjoy a prolific bloom of large, pure white, hibiscus-like flowers, each with a dramatic ruby-red center, providing continuous color from mid-summer through fall. The vibrant blooms make a bold statement in any garden setting.
• Attracts Pollinators: The nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for hummingbirds, specialized bees, and butterflies, turning your garden into a vibrant ecosystem and supporting local wildlife. This makes it an excellent choice for a pollinator or butterfly garden.
• Easy to Grow & Low Maintenance: This plant is exceptionally easy to establish and care for, thriving with minimal intervention. It tolerates a range of conditions, making it suitable for gardeners of all skill levels. Understanding basic Rose of Sharon care ensures its long-term health.
• Versatile Landscape Use: Perfect as a standalone specimen, in mixed borders, or planted in multiples to create a beautiful and effective privacy hedge. Its upright growth habit allows for various design applications.
• Drought and Heat Tolerant: Once established, the Hibiscus Syriacus plant shows good tolerance to heat and moderate drought conditions, making it a resilient choice for various climates. It prefers hot weather, enhancing its performance.
• Deer Resistant: The plant is moderately tolerant to deer, offering a degree of protection against common garden pests without requiring extensive preventative measures.
• pH Adaptable: It can thrive in a variety of soil pH levels, further simplifying its planting requirements and allowing it to flourish in diverse garden environments.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper Rose of Sharon care ensures a healthy, vigorous plant with abundant blooms. This adaptable shrub thrives in a range of conditions, making it a forgiving choice for many gardeners. For optimal growth, plant your Red Heart Rose of Sharon bare-root in a location that receives full sun to partial shade. Full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily) will encourage the most prolific flowering, while partial shade can be tolerated, especially in hotter climates, though it may result in fewer blooms. The plant prefers hot weather and will perform best when temperatures are consistently warm during its growing season.

When it comes to watering, the Hibiscus Syriacus plant grows best in moist, well-drained soils. While it is tolerant of all but extremely wet or extremely dry conditions, consistent moisture is ideal, especially during its first year of establishment. Once mature, it has moderate drought tolerance. Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot. Spring pruning is beneficial and encourages new growth, which is where the flowers form, leading to a more spectacular and larger bloom display. The plant is moderately tolerant of salt, deer, heat, and wet soil, demonstrating its robust nature. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer to support vigorous growth and flowering. Monitor for common pests like aphids, though serious issues are rare.

Size & Details

This Red Heart Rose of Sharon bare-root plant is typically shipped as a dormant bare-root specimen, ready for immediate planting upon arrival. When mature, this deciduous shrub or small tree can reach an impressive height of 8 to 12 feet tall with a spread of 6 to 10 feet wide, creating a substantial presence in the landscape. Its growth rate is considered rapid, allowing it to establish quickly and provide a significant visual impact within a few seasons. The large, hibiscus-like flowers, measuring several inches across, begin to appear in mid-summer and continue their lavish display well into fall, sometimes lasting until the first frost. This prolonged blooming period ensures a long season of vibrant color. The plant’s mature size makes it suitable for use as a striking specimen plant, a privacy screen, or a beautiful hedge when planted 6 to 12 feet apart. Expect your white hibiscus plant to begin flowering in its first or second growing season, with increasingly abundant blooms as it matures.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The Red Heart Rose of Sharon bare-root typically grows to a height of 8 to 12 feet and spreads 6 to 10 feet wide. Its mature size makes it an excellent choice for a specimen plant or a dense hedge.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This is an outdoor plant, a deciduous shrub that thrives in garden settings. It is well-suited for temperate climates and is known for its hardiness.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: The Hibiscus Syriacus plant prefers full sun to partial shade. For the most abundant blooms, aim for at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Rose of Sharon is known for being exceptionally easy to grow and requires minimal care once established. It’s an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a low-maintenance yet beautiful plant.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Red Heart Rose of Sharon bare-root plant will arrive as a dormant bare-root specimen, which is the ideal state for planting to ensure strong establishment.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: This plant typically begins to bloom in its first or second growing season after planting, with flowering occurring from mid-summer well into the fall. Consistent Rose of Sharon care will encourage earlier and more prolific blooms.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The Rose of Sharon is generally hardy in USDA zones 5-9. It is a deciduous shrub, meaning it will lose its leaves in winter and return vigorously in spring.
• Q: Can I use this plant for a hedge? A: Absolutely! Planting multiple white hibiscus plant specimens 6 to 12 feet apart creates a beautiful and effective privacy hedge due to its dense growth and attractive foliage.
• Q: What type of soil does it prefer? A: It prefers moist, well-drained soils but is tolerant of a wide range of soil types, except for extremely wet or dry conditions. It is also pH adaptable.
• Q: Is this plant attractive to hummingbirds? A: Yes, the vibrant ruby-red centers of the flowers are a strong attractant for hummingbirds, making it a fantastic addition to any garden designed to support pollinators.