Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 2.0 - 00000727
01/01/98
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8 Height: 12 ft Spread: 10 ft Form: upright Type: deciduous shrub Annual Growth Rate: 12 to 18 inches Flowers: White, red, purple, blue, pink
Comments: Rose-of-Sharon is valued for large flowers produced in mid-to late summer when few other shrubs bloom. The plant grows in sun or partial shade and in any soil. The growth rate ranges from slow to moderate, and transplanting is easy. The single or double flowers are in shades of red, pink, white and purple, depending on the cultivar. Peak bloom takes place in August. Prune in late winter or early spring. Frequent severe pruning gives fewer but larger flowers; no or little pruning gives many small flowers. Young plants are not as hardy as older plants.
Cultivars:
'Aphrodite' - Dark pink flowers with a dark red eye.
'Ardens' - Double, rose-purple flowers with a maroon
blotch.
'Blue Bird' - Single, sky-blue flowers about 5 inches
across.
'Blushing Bride' - Double, rich pink flowers.
'Bulls Eye' - Large, single, rose-red flowers with a
red eye.
'Candy Stripe' - Single flowers that are white and pink
with red stripes.
'Coelestris' - Single, blue flowers.
'Collie Mullens' - Double, purple-lavender blooms.
'Diana' - Single, pure white flowers.
'Freedom' - Semi-double, rose pink flowers.
'Hamabo' - Single pink or pinkish lavender flowers with
a crimson eye. Color tends to be two-tone or
mottled.
'Helene' - Large, single white flowers with a dark red
eye.
'Jeanne D'Arc' - Double white flowers.
'Lucy' - Double, dark red flowers.
'Minerva' - Single, lavender flowers are overcast with
pink and have a dark red eye.
'Morning Star' - Double, red and white striped flowers.
'Paeoniflorus' - Double, violet-pink flowers.
'Pink Giant' - Single pink flowers are produced on an
upright plant.
'Purple Sky' - Single purple flowers with a red star
eye.
'Red Heart' - Single white flowers with a scarlet
center.
'Rosie Red' - Double, rose-red flowers.
'Royal Purple' - Semi-double, purple flowers with a red
eye.
'Rubis' - Single, red flowers.
'Woodbridge' - Single, rose-pink flowers with a red
eye.
'W. R. Smith' - Single, white flowers.
References for Cultivars: Lake County Nursery 1997, Bailey Nurseries 1997, Ray Wiegand's Nursery 1997, Monrovia Nursery Company 1997, Spring Meadow Nursery 1997, Weston Nurseries 1997, J. Frank Schmidt and Son 1997, Wayside Gardens 1996, Sheridan Nurseries 1997.