How to grow Hibiscus syriacus

Hibiscus syriacus grow and care – shrub‎ of the genus Hibiscus also known as Rose of Sharon or rose mallow, Hibiscus syriacus perennial deciduous plant, can be grown for the edible leaves, but mostly used as ornamental plant for the flowers and as hedge plant, can grow in temperate, subtropical or mediterranean climate and growing in hardiness zone 5-10a and with the right care in hardiness zone 10b.

Hibiscus syriacus Plants, Seeds & Supplies for Sale

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Proven Winners 2 Gal. Blue Chiffon Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus) Shrub
Proven Winners 2 Gal. Blue Chiffon Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus) ShrubCheck Price on Amazon
Minerva Hardy Hibiscus Syriacus Plant - Purple Rose of Sharon Shrub Shipped 1 to 2 Feet Tall by DAS Farms
Minerva Hardy Hibiscus Syriacus Plant - Purple Rose of Sharon Shrub ShippedCheck Price on Amazon
Proven Winners 2 Gal. Red Pillar Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus) Shrub
Proven Winners 2 Gal. Red Pillar Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus) ShrubCheck Price on Amazon
Red Althea Live Plants (Rose of Sharon), 8-12" Tall Quart Pot Flowering Trees, Hibiscus Shrubs for Outdoor Planting, Landscaping & Garden Bed
Red Althea Live Plants (Rose of Sharon), 8-12" Tall Quart Pot FloweringCheck Price on Amazon
Blue Chiffon® Hibiscus syriacus - Rose of Sharon - 4" Pot - Proven Winners
Blue Chiffon® Hibiscus syriacus - Rose of Sharon - 4" Pot -Check Price on Amazon
2 Red Lucy Rose of Sharon Shrubs - 10-16" Tall Live Plants - Quart Pots
2 Red Lucy Rose of Sharon Shrubs - 10-16" Tall Live PlantsCheck Price on Amazon

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Hibiscus syriacus edible flowers and leaves

Leaves are edible the color green in rhomboid or lobed shape.

Flower edible the color white, purple, blue or pink, the inner part is red-bordeaux in trumpet to bowl shape.

Hibiscus syriacus for sale – Seeds or Plants to Buy

How to grow Hibiscus syriacus growing and care:

Well drained soil, rich soil, organic material

How to care:
Add fertilize at least once, put mulch to keep the soil moist, organic matter and humus, prune once a year, add water a lot of water when the temperature above 38C (100F)

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed / Vegetative Reproduction – cutting

How to propagate by cutting:
Propagating by cutting better to start in the early spring or with temperature of 15-26C (59-79F) and better before the plant start to grow after the dormant, better to choose stems that not going to bloom, requirements: moist soil, high humidity, peat soil, hormone for root growth, highly recommend to use green house (or small plastic box with holes) it will take few weeks.

Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
No, but with cutting ensure the color of the flower and the size of the plants, not hard to start by seeds

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Invasive, flowers burn in heat waves

Recommended planting season?
Winter, spring, simmer (in hardiness zone 10b better not in the summer and better in the winter to early spring)

How to plant:
Dig hole bigger 50% more than the roots ball, add to the hole, organic matter, dead leaves and hummus put back some soil and mix it, after this put the plant cover lightly but strong enough that won’t fall put support for the plant if needed, if the plant is not stable consider to prune, water it twice in the first day and every day for two weeks, in winter no need to put a lot of water and need to wait for the spring to put everyday water, and in the summer need to put big amount of water until the plant growing at least 5 new leaves.

Pests and diseases:
Nematode, galls, aphids, mealy bugs

Pruning season:
End of the autumn to winter

How to prune:
Just for design, dead part and inner branches that not blooming

Size of the plant:
1-4 m, 3-12 feet

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing

Water requirement:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water (more water in hot days above 38C (100F)

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun / Half Shade (in hardiness zone 10b and in location with a lot of days in temperature above 38C (100F)

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in pots, planter, flowerpot or containers:
Yes, when growing in pot need 50% bigger than the roots ball, every time that switch the container to bigger switch some of the soil to new soil until arrive to the desirable container size, after that every few years better to switch part of the soil and cut some roots, no need to take the plant out just from the side of the container, can grow in container of 10-20L (2-4 gallons) and can grow in bigger, soil can be potting soil, mixture of peat soil and perlite or other light mixed soil, water it regularly and care when put bottom for the pot be aware not to let the water stay there too many days, need to add humus, organic matter, fertilizer and mulch to cover the soil to keep it moist.

Blooming information

Bloom season:
Spring / Summer / Autumn

General information about the flower
Trumpet to bowl shape in white purple, blue or pink color, the inner part is red-bordeaux

Pollination is done by:
Bee

Uses of Hibiscus syriacus flower:
Salad, beverage

Edible leaves

Leaves harvesting season:
Spring / Summer / Autumn

How to harvest the leaves?
After plant establish, cut the tender leaves

Information about leaves:
Green leaves in rhomboid or lobed shape

Uses of Hibiscus syriacus leaves:
Beverage, cook

How to grow Hibiscus syriacus from seeds

Sowing requirement:
Moist soil, 20-26C (68-80F), humidity, full sun or half sun (if there are heat wave in the spring)

Saving seeds and care until sowing:
Dry and dark location in refrigerator

Sowing season:
Spring / Summer / Autumn (more important the temperature)

How to plant:
Plant in soil that stay moist and don’t let the soil dry

Planting spacing:
3*5cm to transplant and better not to transplant it before 5 leaves, direct 1*1m (40*40 inches)

Depth of Sowing:
0.5-1cm (0.25-0.5 inch) but cover lightly and don’t push

Conditions for seeds germinate:
Full sun, moist soil

Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water

Germination time:
10-20 days

Condition of seedling:
After five leaves possible to add fertilizer

Do the seeds require burying?
Yes

Chilling hour’s requirements:
At least one month of cold temperature, better to keep it with peat soil in cold temperatures

Scientific name:

Hibiscus syriacus

How to grow Hibiscus syriacus

Hibiscus syriacus blooming season

Hibiscus syriacus planting season

Hibiscus syriacus flowers season

Hibiscus syriacus white flower

Hibiscus syriacus

Hibiscus syriacus flower

Growing Hibiscus syriacus

Hibiscus syriacus plant care

Hibiscus syriacus pink flower

Categories

Blooming Seasons
  • Autumn flowers
  • Spring flowers
  • Summer flowers
Edible Parts
  • Edible flowers
  • Edible leaves
Culinary uses
  • Beverage
  • Cooked
  • Salad
Flower colors
  • Pink flower
  • White flower
Climate
  • Mediterranean Climate
  • Subtropics Climate
  • Temperate Climate
Harvest Season
  • Autumn Harvest
  • Spring Harvest
  • Summer Harvest
Ornamental parts
  • Ornamental flower
  • Ornamental leaves
  • Ornamental plant
Plant growing speed
  • Average growing plants
  • Fast growing plants
Plant life-form
  • Deciduous
  • Perennial plant
  • Shrub
Plant Uses
  • Edible plants
  • Ornamental plants
Planting Season
  • Spring Planting
  • Summer planting
  • Winter planting
Plants sun exposure
  • Full sun Plants
  • Part shade Plants
Watering plants
  • Big amount of water
  • Regularly water
Hardiness zone
  • Hardiness zone 10
  • Hardiness zone 5
  • Hardiness zone 6
  • Hardiness zone 7
  • Hardiness zone 9

Growing in Pots, Balconies & Indoors

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a hardy deciduous shrub best grown outdoors in full sun; the grower does not grow it indoors. It makes a good large-container plant for a sunny balcony or patio, especially while young.

Quick Details

  • Container Size: 10-20 L (2-4 gal), larger is fine
  • Indoor Suitability: Not a houseplant – it is a hardy outdoor shrub that needs full sun
  • Best Spot: Full sun (light half shade only in extreme heat)
  • Soil & Drainage: Potting soil or a peat-and-perlite (or other light) mix, kept moist but free-draining
  • Watering in Pots: Water regularly, average to generous – more on hot days above about 38C (100F) – but do not let water pool.

Indoors & On the Windowsill

  • Houseplant limits: The grower lists it as not an indoor plant; it is cold-hardy and belongs outside, where it flowers freely in sun.
  • In a pot: It grows well in a large container while young; being hardy, it does not need indoor overwintering in most climates – just guard the pot from hard freezes.

On a Balcony or Patio

  • Light and wind: Give it the sunniest, warmest spot for the best flowering; walls and railings reflect heat so pots dry quickly – check moisture daily in hot spells and shelter it from strong wind.
  • Overwintering: Where winters are cold, a potted plant is easy to move into a bright, frost-free spot for the cold season and back out when it warms – a key reason to grow tender hibiscus in a container.
  • Practicalities: A large watered pot is heavy – check the balcony can take it, and manage drainage runoff with a tray or pot feet.

Choosing the Pot, Soil & Long-Term Care

  • Pot and drainage: 10-20 L (2-4 gal) with strong drainage holes. If it stands in a tray, do not let water pool there for days – that leads to root rot. Choose a pot with strong drainage holes; if you stand it on a saucer, empty the saucer promptly so the roots never sit in water. Terracotta breathes and dries faster, while glazed or plastic pots hold moisture longer.
  • Potting mix: Use a well-aerated, organic-rich mix – a good potting soil, or peat/coir blended with perlite or vermiculite for drainage and air.
  • Watering: Water regularly to keep the mix evenly moist – pots dry out far faster than open ground, so check often in heat – but never leave it standing wet.
  • Feeding: Potted plants run through their soil faster because nutrients leach out with every watering, so feed a little more often than you would in open ground. Adding humus, organic matter and a mulch layer, as the grower advises, helps hold moisture and nutrients.

Grower’s Container Tip

  • Pot up gradually and root-prune from the side: The grower’s own method: move up one pot at a time, only about 50% larger than the root ball, mixing in some fresh soil at each step until you reach the final container size. After that, every few years replace part of the soil and cut back some roots – you can do this from the side of the pot without lifting the whole plant out. Adding humus, organic matter, fertilizer and a mulch layer on top helps keep the soil moist and fed.

Bloom & Edible Flower Guide

Quick Details

  • Bloom Season: Spring through autumn, at its peak in mid-to-late summer
  • Time to First Bloom: Within a year or two of planting for young shrubs
  • Flower Appearance: Large trumpet- to bowl-shaped flowers in white, pink, purple or blue with a deep red center
  • Edibility: The flowers are edible and mild, used in salads and drinks

Detailed Blooming Overview

Rose of Sharon is a hardy deciduous shrub grown above all for its flowers, which appear from spring through autumn and peak in mid-to-late summer. The large trumpet- to bowl-shaped blooms come in white, pink, purple or blue, each set off by a deep red-bordeaux throat. They are edible and mild, welcome in salads or steeped as a drink, and each flower lasts about a day before the next takes its place.

Flower Characteristics

  • Large trumpet- to bowl-shaped flowers, single or double.
  • White, pink, purple or blue petals with a deep red-bordeaux center.
  • Edible and mild; used in salads and beverages.

Bloom Care & Thinning

  • Managing the bloom: Deadheading spent flowers keeps the display going and curbs its tendency to self-seed freely.
  • Pollination: Pollinated by bees.
  • Uses of the flowers: Salads and beverages.

Bloom Health & Protection

  • Aphids often cluster on the developing buds and can cause bud drop – a firm jet of water or insecticidal soap usually keeps them under control.