Q.When Should My Rose of Sharon Bushes Start to Bud?
We planted three rose of sharon bushes/trees last fall. They did have some leaves and a few blooms on them. We had an extremely dry winter. We did water a bit. It is now past the middle of May, and we still don’t have any buds on them. We don’t think they are dead, as they are still limber. When should we be seeing leaves budding?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
The should be budding by now, but it has been rather cold in many parts of the country and this could be delaying them. This article will help you determine if they are dead:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/how-to-tell-if-a-plant-is-dead-and-how-to-recover-an-almost-dead-plant.htm
Rose of Sharon is the very last thing to come out of dormancy. Be patient, they're coming. The flowers will show up at the end of July and continue through August.
Prune if you're going to in late winter at the latest although taking off any dead wood can be done anytime. Cut just above a leaf node, like a rose bush. The more you prune, the lusher they become, but the lusher they become, the smaller the flowers.
Prepare yourself for weeding! RofS broadcasts seeds and lots of them. Also, the fallen flower heads should be removed daily as they turn rather slimy and disgusting if they get wet, they'll also stain your deck.
