Rose of Sharon Bush

[elizabeth]

Has anyone here ever been successful in cultivating an old fashioned Rose of Sharon bush from seed?



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[lavandulagirl]

Elizabeth - I know Kimikat has some growing. We talked about trading a year or so ago, but it never happened. She wanted some of the stuff that grows wild all over the place in Virginia... that pretty, pink centered one. As I recall, she had some that were blue-ish, but I could be mistaken. (Shhh... it happens more often than people think!)

Do you need seed, or did you already have some you were trying to grow? I know the really common Hibiscus syriacus grows everywhere all over the Shenandoah Valley. It definitely needs a cold striation period, but it has nice large seeds so they're easy to deal with, and if you don't get cold enough in Southern VA, you could stick the seeds in the freezer.

[ottawagardener]

My mom gave me a bush that self seeded (so she claims) in her southern Canada garden. You could try winter sowing it?

[sphinxeyes]

I have three big bushes in my garden. I'm not sure what variety it is, but the blossoms are always pure white. I've never tried getting seed from it, but I could try if anyone is interested in receiving some.

[plantsnobin]

They self seed too easily here. They can compete even in soded areas, and will come back from the roots after being cut off at ground level repeatedly. Make sure that you really are sure you want them, because they are hard to get rid of if you change your mind.

[flowerpower]

My MIL lives near here & she planted them as a small windbreak. I wasn't sure they would make it, but they've been in for at least 5 yrs. I got some seed in a trade, so I think I will wintersow some.

Karen, do the deer find these tasty?

[plantsnobin]

It's weird that there are so many deer around here, and I don't have any trouble with them in my garden. So, I really don't know if the deer would bother them. But I can say that they haven't eaten the ones next door at my daughters, even though they do play in her yard. I try to kill every bush that sprouts up, I just don't care for them. They tend to die out in the middle, foliage doesn't get pretty in the fall, self seed too much, etc. Seems I read about them maybe being edible? I shouldn't say that until I look it up though. If they are I might try some this year, we have plenty to spare around here.

[plantsnobin]

Well, according to PFAF, all parts are edible. Guess I will have to try to like this plant after all.

[ottawagardener]

Yeah, I read this about its edibility too, as a relative of hibscus, but I've never tried it. Shall we vow to try it next year and compare notes?

Telsing - part of the experimental salad club (Frank, Stevil, Hiven, everyone you're invited).

[stevil]

Hibiscus syriacus can be overwintered in the areas of Norway with the mildest winters. Too cold here though. I've grown them in pots and overwintered in a cold cellar. My largest plant finally decided to flower after about 10-years - one flower and it then promptly died.....didn't even get to taste a flower... I have one in reserve though, so I'm in for a taste-in next summer...

I've fancied this one for some time - nice red leaves, Hibiscus acetosella, the epithet referring to the sorrel-tasting leaves:
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1250
The picture was taken in the botanics in Utrecht, the Netherlands - although this picture was outside, this species isn't supposed to be that hardy though.

[ottawagardener]

Very pretty!