Stanley Rose of Sharon

Stanley Rose of Sharon is a beautiful upright flowering shrub known for its double to semi-double white blooms brushed with soft pink and accented by deep pink to red centers. The showy flowers appear throughout summer and often continue into fall, providing dependable color after many other flowering shrubs have finished blooming.

Its naturally upright growth habit makes Stanley a good choice as a specimen plant, flowering hedge, privacy screen, background shrub, or colorful addition to a mixed border. Give it enough room to reach its mature height and width so it can maintain its graceful shape without frequent trimming. Several plants can also be spaced together to create an informal flowering screen.

Butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators regularly visit the flowers. Pairing Stanley Rose of Sharon with other summer-blooming plants can help provide nectar during the hottest part of the growing season. Our guide to flowering plants and shrubs that attract pollinators offers additional ideas for creating a garden that supports beneficial wildlife.

Plant Stanley Rose of Sharon in full sun for the strongest growth and heaviest flowering. It can tolerate some light shade, but plants growing with less sunlight may produce fewer blooms. Choose well-drained soil and water regularly during the first growing season. Once established, Rose of Sharon generally handles Southern heat, humidity, and short dry periods well.

Apply two to three inches of mulch around the root zone to help conserve soil moisture and limit weed growth. Keep the mulch several inches away from the main stems to prevent moisture from collecting around the base.

Because Stanley Rose of Sharon blooms on new growth, it can be pruned in late winter or early spring before fresh leaves begin appearing. Remove dead, damaged, weak, or crossing branches first, then lightly shape the shrub if necessary. Avoid unnecessary severe pruning, since its natural upright form is part of its appeal.

The North Carolina Extension Rose of Sharon guide provides additional information about sunlight, soil, landscape uses, pollinator value, and general care. With good sunlight, proper spacing, and simple seasonal maintenance, Stanley Rose of Sharon can provide reliable summer and fall flowers for many years.