Anyone who wants to add some color to their yard later in the season should consider planting the Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub. This cultivar, known as Hibiscus syriacus 'Minerva,' blooms from late summer through fall with large hibiscus flowers that show shades of light and dark pink. This plant is also quite durable as it has better heat tolerance, drought tolerance and deer resistance than most other Rose of Sharon shrubs.
The Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub blooms with multi-toned flowers.
This plant is tougher than its relatives as it withstands heat and drought conditions.
The foliage of this plant has a unique shape and a rich, green color.
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The Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub should grow in an area that receives full sunlight or partial shade.
Watering
This plant has decent drought tolerance but will perform better when it receives water about once per week during the growing season.
Fertilizing
Feed this tree annually in spring with a balanced fertilizer.
Planting and Care
by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on November 4, 2022
Planting instructions
The Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub can grow either in full sunlight or in an area of partial shade. Beyond that, the Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub is not very picky as it can adapt to many growing conditions, inducing soils with low nutrient content. Begin the planting process by digging a hole that is as deep as the root ball is tall and at least twice as wide. Then, place your Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub in the hole and backfill while providing plenty of water.
Watering and nutrients
A newly planted Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub will need water about once per week until it has had a chance to establish itself in its new growing location. After establishment, this plant will have reasonably good resistance to drought but will do best if you water it about once per week or when you notice the first two inches of soil have dried out. You can feed this plant once per year in early spring using a general-purpose fertilizer.
Pollination
The large flowers of the Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub, which blooms throughout summer and fall, will attract many lovely creatures, including bees, birds and some butterflies. But, while these critters will feed on the nectar this plant provides, it is unlikely that they will facilitate successful pollination. The reason for this is that the Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub is a self-sterile plant, meaning that it cannot pollinate itself. However, pollination is not a concern for this plant since it does not produce a harvest.
Pruning
You can prune your Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub any time between late fall and late winter. During that time, you should ensure that you remove any branch that is dead, damaged or showing signs of disease. The good news is that the Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub responds very well to pruning, and you can remove up to two-thirds of this plant’s total mass at times. However, most maintenance pruning for this plant will not require you to remove that much.
Pests, diseases and animals
While the Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea shrub can attract many welcome pollinator species, it can also attract some harmful pests. One of the most pervasive of these pests is the Japanese beetle, which can eat both the flowers and the leaves of this plant. Additionally, nematodes and aphids may also harm this plant. On the other hand, the Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub shows great resistance to deer browsing—a nuisance that can damage the leaves of many popular ornamental shrubs.
Achieving maximum results
The Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub can adapt to nearly any hardiness zone in the United States and is tolerant of a wide range of soil types. Those two traits make this plant very easy to care for, even if you have minimal garden experience. The Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea shrub is also quite versatile as well. It not only acts as a lovely specimen focal point, but it can also grow large enough to act as an effective privacy hedge.
FAQs
How fast does the Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub grow?
Before planting a Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub, you should know that this plant can have an incredibly fast growth rate. At times, it can add as much as two to four feet of new growth in one year. The Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub will continue to grow at this rate until it reaches its relatively small, mature size of about 10 feet tall by eight feet wide.
How long does the Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub live?
The Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub is not the most long-lasting plant that you can add to your garden. At most, this plant will live to be about 30 to 40 years old with the right care and maintenance. During the entirety of that lifespan, your Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub will continue to produce persistent showy flowers in summer and fall.
When was the Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub introduced?
The Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub is a relatively new cultivar that gained an introduction to the world in 1986. The U.S. National Arboretum was the first to introduce this plant, setting the stage for its growth in popularity throughout the nursery trade. Upon its introduction, the Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub stood out for its drought tolerance and convenient deer resistance.
Growing Zones: 5-9 i
Growing zones help determine if a particular plant is likely to grow well in a location. It identifies the average annual minimum winter temperatures across the U.S. provided as a map by the USDA.
(hardy down to -10°F)
Minerva Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub
Hibiscus syriacus 'Minerva'
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