Overview
Uses: Mixed borders, outdoor containers, specimen plantings, and pollinator gardens.
Benefits: A dwarf rose of Sharon with plum-violet flowers accented by a red eye from midsummer into fall, when most shrubs are done blooming. Each 3-inch bloom lasts up to three days, and the compact 3–4 foot size fits small gardens and large containers.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Upright, Rounded — compact and well-branched.
Bloom Color: Plum-Violet with a Red eye
Foliage Color: Green
Mature Height: 3–4 feet
Mature Width: 3–4 feet
Bloom Season: Midsummer to fall
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Tropical-looking flowers in late summer, on a shrub that stays small.
Rose of Sharon is a classic for late-season color, but standard plants grow into large shrubs that can outgrow a small yard. Lil’ Kim® Violet keeps the look in a compact package, maturing at about 3 to 4 feet tall and wide with dense, well-branched growth.
From midsummer into fall it opens wide, saucer-shaped flowers about 3 inches across, in rich plum-violet with a deep red eye at the center. Each bloom lasts up to three days, and new buds keep opening for weeks, carrying the garden through the stretch when spring and early summer shrubs have finished.
The small size makes it easy to place. Use it in a mixed border, as a focal point near a patio, or in a large container where its late flowers can be enjoyed up close. Bees visit the open blooms through the season.
Care
Lil’ Kim® Violet Rose of Sharon Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Full sun gives the heaviest flowering; in more shade the plant still blooms, just less freely.
Rose of Sharon adapts to a wide range of soils, from sandy to clay, as long as water does not stand around the roots. Average, well-drained garden soil is ideal.
Water once or twice a week through the first growing season while roots establish. Established plants handle heat and short dry spells, though steady moisture during summer helps keep buds from dropping before they open.
Feed lightly in spring with a slow release fertilizer; plants in good soil need little else.
Rose of Sharon blooms on new growth, so prune in late winter or early spring before growth begins. A light trim then keeps the shape compact without reducing flowers. Be patient in spring: it is one of the last shrubs to leaf out, often not until late spring.
Growing in Containers
Its compact size suits a large patio container. Use a pot with open drainage and a quality potting mix. Container plants dry out faster than plants in the ground, so check moisture often in summer, especially while buds are forming, and feed lightly in spring and again in early summer, since frequent watering washes nutrients out of the mix. Roots in containers experience greater cold exposure than roots in the ground. Plants hardy in the ground may require winter protection when grown in containers in colder zones.
Size
What Size is the Lil’ Kim® Violet Rose of Sharon for Sale Online?
Our Lil’ Kim® Violet Rose of Sharon ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or near dormant in the off-season, so they may arrive with few or no leaves. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Lil’ Kim® Violet Rose of Sharon Grow?
Expect about 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide at maturity, in an upright, rounded shape. Space plants about 3 to 4 feet apart for a low hedge or grouping.
Additional Information
What is the botanical name of Lil’ Kim® Violet Rose of Sharon?
The botanical name is Hibiscus syriacus Lil’ Kim® Violet ‘SHIMRV24’. It is a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrub in the dwarf Lil’ Kim® series.
What are some common names for this plant?
It is best known as rose of Sharon, and is also called shrub althea.
Why hasn't it leafed out yet in spring?
Rose of Sharon is naturally one of the last shrubs to wake up in spring, and new leaves often do not appear until late spring, after most other shrubs are fully green. Before assuming a plant has died, scratch a stem lightly with a fingernail; green tissue underneath means it is alive and simply waiting for warmer weather.
How is it different from a standard rose of Sharon?
Standard rose of Sharon commonly grows 8 feet or taller, which can be too much for a small yard. The Lil’ Kim® series offers the same late-season flowers on a plant about 3 to 4 feet tall and wide, small enough for a border, foundation bed, or large container. For more compact flowering shrubs, see our Shrubs & Bushes.
