A Space-Saving Plant for Your Summer Garden
Happy first week of March! To start off the month, we’re looking ahead to summer gardening and discussing your next perfect garden addition: White Pillar® Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus). This stunning plant is part of the Pillar® series and is the white-flowered counterpart to the award-winning Purple Pillar® rose of Sharon. Growing in a narrow column, White Pillar® rose of Sharon can fit neatly into tight spaces, bringing elegance to your garden and saving space for countless landscaping possibilities.
Blooming in summer, this variety features white, semi-double flowers. With its upright habit, it grows tall and narrow, reaching a height of 10-16′ and a width of 4-5′. Its size and color complement various landscape styles, making it a graceful choice to plant along your front entrance or even as a privacy screen for spaces you want private but not crowded. Plus, it is a fantastic addition to gardens designed to attract pollinators.
Best suited for USDA zones 5-9, this plant enjoys full sun and well-draining soil. After its first year, it develops good drought tolerance. As spring approaches, keep in mind that rose of Sharon can be slow to leaf out, so be patient if it doesn’t appear straight away. Additionally, it has a relatively high nutrient need. If you notice reduced flower production, apply fertilizer in the spring after the soil has thawed.
Rose of Sharon: Flower Bud or Seed Pod?
If you already have a rose of Sharon planted in your garden, you might have noticed something curious: your plant is covered in buds, but still, no blooms. Not to worry! More often than not, your plant is not in danger of becoming bloomless. Instead, it is a simple case of confusing flower buds with seed pods. This is a common mistake many gardeners make with rose of Sharon due to the fact its seed pods closely resemble its flower buds. Want to learn how to tell them apart? Check out the video below and become a pro at spotting the difference like Kristina!