The rose of Sharon shrub is native to China and other parts of East Asia. It is the national flower of South Korea.
The leaves, flowers, and buds of this shrub are edible and used as medicine.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers it mu Jin Hua and uses its leaves as a tea for longevity.
So, how deep are the roots of a Rose of Sharon?
The rose of Sharon has a taproot system, which grows deep into the soil, as far as 45 cm or 1.5 feet deep.
How to Care for Rose of Sharon
The rose of Sharon shrub requires regular watering and attention. If your roses become infected by fungal spores, they will develop brown spots.
If you have a large infestation, fungicides will help. If you aren’t sure how to control leaf spots, you can also try sulfur plant fungicide, which comes in fine powder form that you can sprinkle onto your roses. Use a garden sprayer to apply it, and repeat the application every 10 to 14 days.
Alternatively, you can grow Rose of Sharon from seeds. To start your roses from seeds, harvest them in autumn, and sow them directly into the planting bed.
Over the winter, store the seeds in a dry place until spring. Then, soak the seeds for 24 hours in water and press them into a seed tray.
After about four to 10 days, sift the soil with sand, and cover the cutting with plastic wrap. The seedlings will begin to sprout after a few weeks and will eventually form a root system.
After this, you can pick out the cuttings and transplant them into containers.
If you’re wondering how to care for your rose of Sharon, the first thing to do is to determine where to plant it.
A rose of Sharon is often referred to as the shrub Althea, but this name doesn’t accurately describe the type of plant.
It is not native to Syria but is believed to originate in China and India. It needs rich soil with a pH level between 5.5 and 7.5.
Planting
This shrub grows well in full sun or part shade. It grows well in soil with a neutral or slightly alkaline pH and is a versatile plant that will thrive in a variety of conditions. It is a popular choice for city gardens because its adaptability makes it a great addition to any landscape.
If you’re worried about the depth of its roots, here are some tips to keep the shrub healthy:
When planting the rose of Sharon, make sure to dig a hole twice the size of the root ball. Plant the rose about an inch deeper than it was in the nursery pot.
Once the plant is planted, mix controlled-release fertilizer into the soil that’s removed from the hole.
Don’t forget to water thoroughly to help settle the soil. After planting, you’ll need to water the plant regularly to prevent bud drops.
If your rose of Sharon shrub doesn’t survive the winter, you can try to transplant it to another location. Dig a hole about a foot away from the plant’s base until the soil is about one and a half feet deep. Use a pickax to break up the soil, but don’t chop or sever any large roots.
Then, plant the new rose of Sharon.
Pruning
If you’re interested in growing this flowering shrub in your yard, then you should take steps to prevent the root system from spreading. To prevent the spread of root systems, prune the Rose of Sharon roots to 2/3 of their original size.
If you don’t want to take any chances with the plant, you can also consider planting new roses in its place. To do this, cover the area with compost or cardboard and wet it thoroughly.
Then, plant through the cardboard. This is a difficult task and you may have to remove suckers from the plant. If the Rose of Sharon doesn’t grow well in your yard in the past two years, you can contact Sustainable Landcare Accredited Professionals.
These professionals follow sustainable practices and provide Rose of Sharon services without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
Regardless of the type of pruning, you decide to perform, remember that rose of Sharon roots should be trimmed only to one-third of their original height. To maintain the natural shape of the shrub, you should avoid pruning it too early.
Rose of Sharon will usually be the last to emerge from winter dormancy and so pruning it too soon may lead to premature death. For best results, follow the proper pruning schedule.
Watering
The proper way of watering the roots of rose of Sharon depends on the type of soil. The rose of Sharon likes acidic soil, so its roots need a slightly acidic pH. You can raise the pH of the soil by applying chelated iron or pelletized limestone, or you can lower it by adding organic compost.
You can also mulch the plant with compost to help it maintain its acidity. In any case, you must water the roots regularly.
Watering the roots of Rose of Sharon is an essential part of plant maintenance. Roses need regular watering. Water the roots of rose of Sharon twice a week, and prune it once a year in late winter or early spring.
This will remove the flower buds. In addition, aphids can cause the flower buds to die and not open, so pruning the rose of Sharon at the wrong time can lead to a lack of blooms.
When you water the roots of Rose of Sharon, avoid watering it too often. Rose of Sharon needs at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. Too much shade will suppress the flowering process. If temperatures remain too high for too long, you can transplant the plant.
Excessively hot temperatures will make flower buds drop off, so water your rose of Sharon in the cool season. Likewise, overwatering will stress the plant and cause flower buds to drop.
Growth rate
The growth rate of Rose of Sharon depends on how much you fertilize the plant. This plant needs moderate nitrogen, low phosphorus, and a high-potassium balance.
The best time to fertilize is late winter or early spring, as applying fertilizer at any other time of the year could cause new growth. Rose of Sharon is also susceptible to overfertilization. For this reason, you should check the nutrient levels in your soil and add slow-release fertilizer.
Seedlings of rose of Sharon are easy to grow and transplant. Just plant them in a soilless medium at least half an inch deep. Plant them near a sunny window in an area that is 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
To germinate rose of Sharon, you should wait at least two to four weeks until the seedlings emerge from the ground. Then, water the rose of Sharon regularly for two weeks.
Insects like Japanese beetles can infect rose of Sharon plants. Pesticides should be avoided as these can damage flowers. If you do find insects, you can handpick them. Regular inspection and pruning can prevent pest infestation and ensure the health of your rose of Sharon plant.
Make sure to water your rose of Sharon plant regularly to maintain its full growth. You can purchase rose of Sharon plants at the Arbor Day Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports community tree-planting programs.
Diseases
While rose of Sharon isn’t related to roses, it does like moist, well-drained soil. This plant’s roots won’t cause damage to newer foundations and will provide a dense overgrowth that shades the foundation. It will also retain moisture below ground.
If you think the rose of Sharon might cause damage, be aware that it’s susceptible to certain insects and diseases. To prevent these problems, you can apply Sevin Sulfur Dust to the roots of the rose of Sharon.
Wild rose of Sharon plants have single flowers, but there are cultivars with double blooms. Ardens, for example, feature three-inch lavender flowers and diamond-shaped, serrated leaves.
Its mature size is between eight and 12 feet. Lil’ Kim, on the other hand, has five-petaled white flowers with a wine-red throat and blooms for three days.
If you’re thinking of planting a rose of Sharon shrub, make sure to choose a location that gets full sun and is sheltered from extremes of climate.
The soil should be fertile and humus-rich, and the rose of Sharon can grow in either clay or sandy soil. The Rose of Sharon plant is fairly drought-tolerant but doesn’t do well in wet areas.
Location
A rose of Sharon shrub does not require pruning during the current season, because the flowers are produced on new wood. If you decide to prune the shrub early, you will not remove the flower buds.
However, rose of Sharon shrubs is susceptible to disease and insect damage.
If you notice pests or diseases on the rose of Sharon, you should apply Sevin Sulfur Dust to kill them instantly. This fertilizer will not harm the rose of Sharon.
The soil where rose of Sharon thrives should be well-draining and moist. Its roots are unlikely to cause damage to a new foundation. However, its burrowing roots can squirm through mortar.
To prevent such problems, you should plant rose of Sharon at least six feet away from your foundation.
If you want to transplant the rose of Sharon, wait until late fall. You should not plant it near your house unless you’re ready to face the consequences.
The soil type should match the plant’s needs. In the southern region, rose of Sharon is planted in the fall. In northern climates, plant it in the spring.
The shrub needs at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight on most days. It will tolerate a few hours of partial shade, but too much shade can limit flowering and cause fungal problems.
The rose of Sharon can grow in a variety of soil types but prefers nutrient-rich, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic or neutral pH level. If the soil pH is slightly alkaline, it can also grow.