Is Rose of Sharon deer resistant?
Hibiscus syriacus
About Rose of Sharon
Deer browse the new growth and the flower buds where pressure is high, and generally leave the woody framework alone. Established shrubs shrug it off. It leafs out very late, often not until well into May, and every spring a certain number of people conclude theirs died over winter and dig it up. Scratch the bark before you do: green underneath means wait. The real nuisance is seedlings. The species sets prodigious quantities of viable seed and it germinates everywhere, including in paving cracks and neighbouring gardens. It is listed as invasive in parts of the southeast for exactly this reason. Sterile and low-seed cultivars now exist and are the sensible choice.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 6 to 7
- Drainage
- Well drained
- Water
- Moderate
- Fertility
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 71 to 94 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
Tolerances and uses
- Drought
- Moderate
- Salt
- Moderate
- Pollinators
- High
Similar to Rose of Sharon
Other shrubs with the same deer rating.
- Antelope BitterbrushPurshia tridentataSeldom damaged
- Anthony Waterer SpireaSpiraea x bumaldaZones 3–8Seldom damaged
- Apache PlumeFallugia paradoxaZones 6–10Seldom damaged
- Armstrong JuniperJuniperus chinensis 'Armstrongii'Zones 4–9Seldom damaged
- Autumn OliveElaeagnus umbellataZones 4–9Seldom damaged
- Autumn SageSalvia greggiiZones 6–9Seldom damaged
Where Rose of Sharon grows
Hardy across most of these 50 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- New York
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Virginia
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Texas
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Florida
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Iowa
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
Browse from here
Every list Rose of Sharon belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Rose of Sharon
- Is Rose of Sharon deer resistant?
- Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does Rose of Sharon grow in?
- Rose of Sharon is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Rose of Sharon grow in shade?
- No. Rose of Sharon wants full sun and will grow thin and flop in shade.
- How big does Rose of Sharon get?
- Mature height is roughly 96–144 in. Growth rate is moderate.
- When does Rose of Sharon bloom?
- Rose of Sharon flowers from July–September.