How to Propagate Rose of Sharon Shrubs

Rose of Sharon is a name taken from the biblical Song of Songs. Today it is commonly given to several different plants throughout the world, however in the United States, Rose of Sharon is applied to Hibiscus syriacus, a shrub in the mallow family that produces a hibiscus-like flower. Rose of Sharon is deciduous in colder climates, but will remain evergreen in warmer climates. You can propagate the rose of Sharon with seeds or rooted stem cuttings.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Seed flats
• Sterilized potting soil
• Garden trowel
• Plant mister
• Garden shears
• Terra cotta pot
• Rooting hormone
• Potting sand

Starting from Seeds

1. Collect rose of Sharon seed pods after the pods have dried.

2. Fill seed flats with sterilized potting soil four to six weeks before the last average frost date.

3. Sow seeds in seed flats and cover with ¼ inch of potting soil.

4. Keep the soil mixture moist and at around 70 degrees F.

Starting from Cuttings

5. Select a branch from the shrub that has not flowered.

6. Cut 12 inches from the end of the branch with plant shears.

7. Fill a terra cotta pot with a mix of sterilized potting soil and sand.

8. Trim the lowest quarter of the leaves off of the branch and cut the branch to just below the bottom leaf axel (the point where the leaf comes out).

9. Dip the branch in rooting hormone.

10. Insert the bottom quarter of the branch into the potting soil. Keep the soil most until the branch takes root---about two weeks.

11. Pinch the top off of the growing tip to force it to branch out.

References

• University of Florida: Hibiscus Syriacus
• Ohio State University: Hibiscus Syriacus
• Rob's Plants: Starting Plants from Seed

Resources

• Rainy Side Gardeners: Propagating Plants from Stem Cuttings