If you’re looking to perk up your garden with color while attracting beautiful hummingbirds, Rose of Sharon shrubs are a great choice.
However, some varieties can spread quickly and become a nuisance. Luckily, there are special types of Rose of Sharon shrubs that offer all the beauty and pollinator appeal without the hassle of invasive growth.
What is Rose of Sharon
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a type of shrub that is popular for its beautiful flowers. These shrubs can grow quite large, reaching up to 12 feet tall and 10 feet wide.
Because of their size, they can quickly take over a small garden or space if not managed carefully.
Rose of Sharon plants are known for their colorful blooms that can be pink, white, purple, or red. They bloom in late summer and fall when many other plants have finished flowering.
In addition, they are hardy and can tolerate various conditions, including drought and poor soil. However, their large size means they need plenty of space to grow, and if not kept in check, they can become overwhelming in a small area.
These beautiful shrubs attract pollinators like hummingbirds and bees, making them a great choice for gardens that want to support local wildlife.
Choosing the Right Rose of Sharon Varieties
Before planting a Rose of Sharon, be aware that many types drop seeds everywhere, which can quickly cover your lawn or garden with new seedlings. They can even spread into natural areas and become a problem.
Luckily, newer types are partially sterile, so you can enjoy these beautiful flowers with less worry about them taking over. To avoid this, consider varieties like ‘Helene,’ ‘Aphrodite,’ and ‘Minerva.’
These newer varieties, developed in the 1980s, are mostly sterile and still hardy for zones 5b through 9. They offer the beauty and pollinator appeal of older varieties without the invasiveness.
Colorful Yet Less Invasive Rose of Sharon Varieties
‘Aphrodite’ features pink flowers, ‘Helene’ blooms with white petals, and ‘Minerva’ offers lavender-colored blooms. These varieties allow you to enjoy vibrant colors without worrying about invasive plants.
Like other Rose of Sharon types, these three varieties prefer full sun but can also grow in shady spots if needed. They’re good at handling drought and air pollution, making them a popular choice for tough areas.
However, even these mostly sterile varieties have some issues. Research from Oregon State University found that they can still mix with other Rose of Sharon plants and produce seeds. ‘Aphrodite’ is especially likely to do this (ref), so it’s important to regularly check your shrubs to ensure they aren’t creating new plants.
How to Remove Rose of Sharon Shrubs
Removing Rose of Sharon shrubs can be challenging because they are hardy and can grow large. Here’s how to remove them:
1. Prepare the Area
Start by clearing the area around the shrub. Remove any rocks, mulch, or other debris. This will give you better access to the shrub’s base and roots.
2. Cut Back the Shrub
Use pruning shears or a saw to cut the shrub back to a manageable height. This will make it easier to handle the rest of the removal process. Very large shrubs can be cut in stages.
3. Dig Up the Roots
Once the shrub is cut back, you’ll need to dig up the roots. Use a shovel or spade to carefully dig around the base of the shrub. Try to get as many roots as possible, but be prepared for the roots to be deep and extensive.
4. Remove the Root Ball
After digging around the shrub, you should be able to lift out the root ball. If it’s too heavy to lift easily, use a pry bar to help loosen it.
5. Dispose of the Shrub
Depending on your local regulations, you can either compost the shrub material or dispose of it as yard waste. If you have a large amount, you might need to take it to a green waste facility.
6. Clean Up
Fill the hole left by the shrub with soil and compact it down. You might also want to add some mulch to help the soil settle and prevent weeds from growing.
7. Check for New Growth
Even after removal, Rose of Sharon shrubs can sometimes regrow from leftover roots. Keep an eye on the area and remove any new sprouts as soon as they appear.
Tip: If keeping a Rose of Sharon in check is daunting, consider hardy hibiscus plants (Hibiscus hybrid) instead. These hybrids, which come from North American native hibiscus, are tough and have large, showy flowers that people often call “dinner plate” hibiscus. (ref)
Like Rose of Sharon, they attract hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators. The best part is that they don’t have the invasive problems that can come with Rose of Sharon.
Read Next: 10 Rose-Colored Indoor Plants For a Vibrant & Joyful Home
Rather than gathering petals and continually buying new flowers, there is a more practical approach to maintaining vividness in your home with houseplants with the same hues on their foliage and blooms all year. Get rose-colored perennial houseplants!
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Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.