Red Althea Rose of Sharon Tree Live Plant, 1 Year Old Dormant Seedling, Quart Pot, Outdoor, Cold Hardy

Overview

Introduce a splash of vibrant color and enduring beauty to your garden with the stunning Red Althea Rose of Sharon Tree. This particular offering is a 1-year-old dormant seedling, carefully nurtured and ready to establish itself in your outdoor space. Known scientifically as Hibiscus syriacus, the Rose of Sharon is a beloved deciduous shrub that provides abundant blooms from summer through fall, making it a garden favorite for continuous floral display. Our Rose of Sharon live plant is robust and well-suited for a variety of climates, especially noted for its cold-hardy nature, ensuring it will thrive and return year after year. Perfect for creating a focal point, a privacy screen, or adding vertical interest to your borders, this plant promises to be a rewarding addition to any landscape.

The Red Althea Rose of Sharon Tree is celebrated not only for its striking red flowers but also for its ease of care and adaptability. Even as a young dormant seedling, it possesses the inherent vigor of its species, promising rapid growth and a quick transition into a mature, floriferous shrub. The deep red hues of its blossoms will attract pollinators and delight observers, providing a dynamic and lively element to your garden ecosystem. Opting for a cold hardy hibiscus like this variety means fewer worries about winter damage, allowing you to enjoy its beauty with confidence in many regions.

Key Benefits

Choosing a Red Althea Rose of Sharon Tree brings a multitude of advantages to your garden, enhancing both its aesthetic appeal and ecological value. This resilient shrub offers long-lasting beauty with minimal effort, making it an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. The benefits of incorporating this particular Rose of Sharon live plant into your landscape are numerous:

• Spectacular Summer to Fall Blooms: Enjoy a prolonged period of vibrant red flowers from mid-summer into early autumn, providing continuous color when many other plants have finished blooming. The large, showy blossoms are a true highlight.
• Exceptional Cold Hardiness: This variety of Hibiscus syriacus red is renowned for its ability to withstand colder temperatures, making it suitable for a wide range of USDA hardiness zones. It reliably returns each spring, even after harsh winters.
• Rapid Growth Rate: As a relatively fast-growing shrub, the Red Althea Rose of Sharon Tree quickly establishes itself and begins producing its beautiful flowers, allowing you to enjoy a mature look sooner.
• Low Maintenance and Easy Care: Once established, this plant requires minimal attention, thriving with basic watering and occasional pruning. It’s an ideal choice for gardeners seeking high impact with low effort.
• Attracts Pollinators: The abundant and colorful blooms act as a magnet for hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, contributing positively to your garden’s biodiversity and ecosystem.
• Versatile Landscaping Use: Its upright growth habit and dense foliage make it perfect for hedges, specimen plants, border accents, or even container planting in larger pots.
• Drought Tolerance: While it appreciates consistent moisture, the cold hardy hibiscus is surprisingly tolerant of drier conditions once mature, making it a resilient choice for various climates.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Red Althea Rose of Sharon Tree is straightforward, ensuring years of beautiful blooms. This Rose of Sharon live plant thrives with proper light, water, and soil conditions. For optimal growth and flowering, select a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. While it can tolerate partial shade, too little sun may result in fewer blooms and a lankier growth habit. Ensure good air circulation around the plant to prevent fungal issues, especially in humid environments.

When it comes to watering, consistent moisture is key for young plants. Once established, the Hibiscus syriacus red is quite drought-tolerant but will perform best with regular watering, especially during dry spells. Aim to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Good drainage is crucial; soggy soil can lead to root rot. For soil, this plant is adaptable but prefers well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil. Amending heavy clay soils with organic matter can improve drainage and provide essential nutrients. A balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring can boost growth and bloom production, though it’s not strictly necessary if your soil is rich.

Pruning is best done in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. The Red Althea Rose of Sharon Tree blooms on new wood, so pruning encourages more prolific flowering. You can prune to maintain shape, control size, or remove any dead or crossing branches. This cold hardy hibiscus is generally resistant to pests and diseases, but keep an eye out for aphids or whiteflies, which can be managed with insecticidal soap if needed. It is hardy in USDA Zones 5-9, tolerating winter temperatures down to -20°F (-29°C), making it a reliable choice for many regions.

Size & Details

This offering is for one Red Althea Rose of Sharon Tree, provided as a 1-year-old dormant seedling. It arrives in a quart-sized pot, with its root system well-developed and ready for transplanting. At this young stage, the plant is typically between 6-12 inches tall, though exact measurements may vary slightly due to its dormant state and individual growth. The Rose of Sharon live plant is known for its moderate to fast growth rate, and under ideal conditions, it can reach a mature height of 8-12 feet and a spread of 6-10 feet, forming an upright, vase-shaped shrub. Expect the first blooms to appear within 1-2 years after planting, with increasing abundance as the plant matures. The dormant seedling stage is ideal for planting, allowing the plant to establish its roots before the stress of active growth.

The Red Althea Rose of Sharon Tree is suitable for outdoor planting, designed to thrive in garden beds, borders, or as a standalone specimen. It offers a substantial presence in the landscape once mature, providing excellent visual interest throughout the growing season. The plant’s robust nature as a cold hardy hibiscus ensures its longevity and consistent performance, making it a valuable long-term investment for your garden. The quart pot provides a healthy starting point for successful transplantation into its permanent home.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Rose of Sharon live plant get? A: The Red Althea Rose of Sharon Tree can reach a mature height of 8-12 feet and a spread of 6-10 feet. It’s a moderate to fast grower, so you’ll see significant size development within a few years.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This Rose of Sharon live plant is intended for outdoor planting. It is a cold-hardy deciduous shrub that thrives in garden environments, providing seasonal interest.
• Q: How much sunlight does the Red Althea Rose of Sharon Tree need? A: It prefers full sun, which means at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. While it can tolerate partial shade, full sun promotes the most abundant flowering for this cold hardy hibiscus.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Red Althea Rose of Sharon Tree is considered very easy to grow and maintain. Once established, it is quite drought-tolerant and requires minimal pruning and care.
• Q: What condition will the Red Althea Rose of Sharon Tree arrive in? A: Your plant will arrive as a 1-year-old dormant seedling in a quart-sized pot. It will be well-packaged to ensure its safe journey and readiness for planting.
• Q: When is the best time to plant this Hibiscus syriacus red? A: The best time to plant dormant seedlings is in early spring or fall. This allows the plant to establish its root system before the extreme temperatures of summer or winter.
• Q: Will this cold hardy hibiscus survive winter in my zone? A: The Red Althea Rose of Sharon Tree is cold hardy in USDA Zones 5-9, meaning it can withstand winter temperatures down to -20°F (-29°C). Check your local zone to ensure suitability.
• Q: What type of soil is best for this red flowering shrub? A: It prefers well-draining soil, ranging from slightly acidic to neutral. Amending heavy clay soils with organic matter will improve drainage and overall plant health.
• Q: How long until this Rose of Sharon starts to bloom? A: As a 1-year-old dormant seedling, you can typically expect your Red Althea Rose of Sharon Tree to start producing flowers within 1-2 years after planting, with blooms becoming more prolific as it matures.
• Q: Can I grow the Red Althea Rose of Sharon Tree in a container? A: Yes, you can grow it in a large container, but ensure the pot has excellent drainage and is large enough to accommodate its mature root system. Container-grown plants may need more frequent watering and feeding.