When Should a Hibiscus Coelestis Get Leaves?

Hibiscus Syriacus

• Rose of Sharon is hardy to Zone 5, producing large single or double flowers from summer into fall --- much later than most flowering shrubs. These heat- and cold-tolerant shrubs are also easy-care, hardy shrubs. Rose of Sharon tolerates all types of soils, from very acidic to mildly alkaline, and various moisture levels. These multistemmed shrubs don't tolerate extremely dry soil or wet soil, so irrigate if needed and make sure the planting area is well drained. They do best in full sun and thrive in summer heat. Rose of Sharon attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Blooms

• Rose of Sharon flowers form on new growth, so even if there is some stem damage during the winter, the year's bloom is largely unaffected. Regularly prune out older stem growth to stimulate healthy new growth and large flowers. In fact, the flowers will be much smaller if old growth is not pruned out. To keep Rose of Sharon compact, you can even prune the entire shrub back hard. For larger but fewer flowers, prune again in the late spring to reduce flower buds on each stem. Rose of Sharon easily self-sows, so it's not uncommon to find many seedlings near parent plants --- new little shrubs that can be transplanted to new locations or potted up as flowering gifts.

Leaf-Out

• Rose of Sharon leafs out in late spring. In fact, it will probably be the last deciduous shrub in your yard or neighborhood to leaf out --- characteristic for this late-season bloomer. Exactly what month that will be depends on where you live. In Iowa, for example, shrubs leaf out in late May or early June and will bloom from July into September. In the Pacific Northwest, they leaf out in late April or early May and bloom from June through October. Local master gardeners can give you likely leaf-out dates for your area. Keep in mind, too, that Rose of Sharon shrubs growing in partial shade will leaf out later than those in full sun. While Rose of Sharon is late to leaf out, it's also very late to lose its leaves --- holding on to them through autumn.

No Leaves

• If Rose of Sharon hasn't leafed out by mid-June in the Midwest --- up to four to six weeks earlier elsewhere --- the shrub is probably dead. Winter temperatures lower than minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit can be fatal, though you can save shrubs where winters get cold with heavy protective mulching. There are other possible causes of shrub death, including lack of water for extended periods. If you're not sure if your Rose of Sharon is dead, prune it back hard, water well and see if it produces new growth.