For a tropical look, even in cold climates, add rose of Sharon to your yard. This hardy flowering shrub has showy flowers that bloom from midsummer into fall, when most other shrubs are finished for the season.
Rose of Sharon is easy to grow, even for beginning gardeners. Hardy in USDA zones 5-9, rose of Sharon bushes are tolerant of a wide range of conditions, including poor soil, heat, humidity, drought and air pollution.
Flowers bloom from midsummer into fall and come in colors including white, red, pink, lavender, blue and bicolors, with single or double forms. Plants have a graceful vase-shaped habit, with small attractive green leaves that are toothed, with no significant fall color.
The double pink rose of sharon, also known by its botanical name Hibiscus syriacus ‘Double Pink’, is a show-stopping flowering tree beloved for its vibrant pink blooms. With its abundance of fully double flowers packed with delicate petals, this exceptional variety lights up gardens and landscapes with nonstop color from midsummer into fall.
The double pink rose of sharon is a deciduous shrub that grows upright to around 8-12 feet tall and wide. It has a vase-shaped form with arching branches. The leaves are oval, pointed, and medium green in color.
But the real draw of this plant are the flowers. The blooms are a bright pink and measure 3-5 inches across. Each double flower is packed with 25-50 petals, compared to just 5-8 petals on single flower types. This gives the blossoms a very full, pompom or carnation-like appearance.
The abundance of petals is the result of a natural mutation that occurred in a pink rose of sharon breed The first double pink varieties were introduced commercially in the 1990s They quickly became prized for their exceptional double blooms.
Long Season of Vibrant Color
One of the best features of the double pink rose of sharon is its long flowering period. It starts blooming in mid to late summer and continues right up until frost.
When grown in full sun and provided with adequate water, a mature shrub can produce hundreds of flowers at once. It blooms prolifically for 2-3 months, with the heaviest flower production during hot, sunny weather. Deadheading spent blooms encourages continual bud formation to extend the bloom season.
The vibrant pink flowers shine against the dark green foliage. They add a pop of color and interest to the landscape at a time when many other plants are not in bloom. The long bloom season means you get to enjoy this beauty for months on end.
Attracts Butterflies, Bees, and Hummingbirds
The large nectar-rich blossoms of the double pink rose of sharon are very attractive to pollinators. Butterflies, bees hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects are drawn to the blooms for their late summer source of food.
You’ll often see these winged visitors flocking to the flowers and busily feeding on their nectar. Planting this shrub provides an excellent source of nutrition for pollinators. And you get the reward of seeing beautiful butterflies and hummingbirds up close in your garden.
Easy to Grow and Care For
One of the reasons the double pink rose of sharon is such a highly recommended flowering tree is that it is so easy to cultivate. This carefree plant adapts readily to a wide range of climates and growing conditions.
It thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9. The double pink variety can tolerate summer heat and humidity as well as winter cold and frost. It grows well in full sun to partial shade, though flowering is most prolific with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
This adaptable shrub also tolerates most soil types including clay, sandy, loam, and alkaline or acidic soil. It’s quite drought resistant once established. The double pink rose of sharon is also unfazed by pollution and urban conditions.
With minimal care, this tough, reliable bloomer delivers beauty year after year. A little pruning for shape, occasional watering, and fertilizing every spring is all it needs to prosper.
Stunning in the Home Landscape
With its nonstop pink pom pom blooms and vigorous growth habit, the double pink rose of sharon is an exceptional choice for gardens and landscapes. Its vibrant flowers stand out beautifully against stone, brick, and white siding.
For the best effect, plant it with contrasting flowers like purple coneflower, catmint, Russian sage, veronica, and agapanthus. It also pairs nicely with evergreens such as arborvitae, boxwood, and yews.
Use the double pink rose of sharon as a focal point or specimen planting. Underplant it with blue hosta for a neat color combination. Group three together for a stunning mass of pink. Or plant a row to form a colorful, wildlife-friendly flowering hedge.
Caring for Your Double Pink Rose of Sharon
To keep your double pink rose of sharon looking its best, provide full sun and average moisture. Water weekly the first year, then one inch per week during bloom periods after established. Apply a general purpose fertilizer in early spring.
Prune in late winter to shape and remove any dead or damaged branches. No regular pruning is required, but cutting back older stems by one-third every 2-3 years helps rejuvenate plants.
Monitor for potential problems like Japanese beetles, aphids, scale, and powdery mildew. Promptly remove any diseased debris and treat pests with horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps if needed.
Amazing Double Pink Blooms All Season Long
With its vibrant pink pompom blossoms over many months, the exceptional double pink rose of sharon is truly a stand-out flowering tree. Adaptable, easy care, and irresistible to pollinators, this beauty brightens gardens and landscapes from midsummer into fall. For nonstop color, make the double pink rose of sharon a star in your yard!
Does rose of Sharon stay green year round?
Rose of Sharon is a deciduous shrub, which means it will lose its leaves in late fall and remain bare during the cold winter months.
When does rose of Sharon leaf out?
Dont worry if spring has sprung in the rest of your garden, but your Rose of Sharon still doesnt have leaves. These shrubs are fashionably late when it comes to leafing out. Dont expect them to begin putting out new foliage until later in spring. In some regions they dont fully leaf out until May or even early June.
All about the Double-Blooming Pink Rose of Sharon Shrub
FAQ
What is the double dark pink rose of Sharon?
Double Pink Rose of Sharon tree is an upright, sometimes leggy deciduous shrub with gorgeous pink and white flowers, which bloom from July to September. Grows to 12 ft tall and 6 ft wide. Works well as a specimen or hedge. Native to China and India.
What are the cons of the rose of Sharon?
Rose of Sharon shrubs can be sensitive to drought or waterlogged soil. Yellowing or browning leaves, dropping buds, wilting plants, or stunted growth problems with althea oftentimes are caused by improper drainage in the planting site.
What is the prettiest rose of Sharon?
The “prettiest” Rose of Sharon is subjective and depends on individual preferences, but several varieties are consistently praised for their beauty and unique characteristics. Popular choices include Blue Satin with its striking blue-violet blooms and deep magenta throat, Pink Chiffon known for its soft, layered pink petals, and Lavender Chiffon with its fluffy, semi-double lavender flowers.
How fast does pink chiffon rose of Sharon grow?
Rose of Sharon can be planted in the spring or fall. It has a moderate growth rate and can gain roughly 1 to 2 feet per year. This shrub is tolerant of air pollution, heat, humidity, poor soil and drought. It’s primarily used as a specimen, hedge or foundation plant.