Propagating Hibiscus syriacus, Rose of Sharon

I have a Rose of Sharon that has become much too large for it's location. I am getting lots of seedings from it, but none are the same color as the mother plant. Is it feasible to root cuttings ? I have never tried them from a H. syriacus. I don't want to lose all of that plant, but it is too large to transplant without major equipment, which I can not afford.
What would be the right time to take cuttings to root?
Thanks for any suggestions.
http://pic16.picturetrail.com/VOL635/2413050/4795529/61755971.jpg

I do cut it back after it blooms, but failed to do so last year. I would rather have a 'clone' in a differant location.

Marian

Just dig up a spot in the shade where it's convenient and easy to remember to keep watered, stick the 6-12" cuttings, tamp the soil down around them, and watch - they will root!

Thanks Kay. I take it these tree and viburnum addicts aren't into Rose of Sharon ? :-(
I'll try what you suggested. It works great with hydrangeas. I just never tried it with Hibiscus.

I think I found the answer to why I only got one response here. It's because there is a Hibiscus forum !!!! Duh!
But aren't Rose of Sharons 'shrubs'?

I mistakenly said I was getting "lots of seedlings" from the mother plant. I should have left out the word "lots". The reseeding is not excessive at all! Nothing at all compared with the seedlings we get in our yard from 'native' trees that grow in our woods!

This message was edited May 7, 2006 9:07 PM

I saw your post, but Kay already had responded. I have nothing against Hibiscuits, but they pale compared with REAL trees!
;-)

Guy S.

I have a "Diana" variety that is really old. I believe what I have seen are suckers instead of seedlings. I have successfully dug them up and planted them in the fall.

I wish to add, in deference to those who consider this plant as an invasive species, I have NEVER seen any evidence of it being invasive in N.W. Arkansas. It is grown in many yards, but I have NEVER seen it outside a yard....not on roadsides, not in fields, and not in woods.
What I was trying to say previously about the seedlings had nothing to do with excess, it had to do with the fact that they do not have the same colored blooms as the original. :-(
I seem to have created a tempest in a teapot!
Just another of my many 'foot-in-mouth' blunders. :-(

Thanks, E-Guy.

Guy S, I have encountered this problem on another forum. It all boils down to differing beliefs. In this case the beliefs are not associated with 'religion' per se, but in a broad sense of the word, the 'invasive plants' issue could be considered a religion.
I have no idea how many of the plants that we consider indigenous were brought over from another continent.

Some of us believe that mankind is in charge of all that happens on earth. Others of us believe in a higher power.

Marian

If Rose of Sharon were left to its own around here, it would quickly be taken over and smothered by chinese privet (if aphids don't kill it first). So no, I do not consider it invasive. Mine have been in the ground for over four decades and the seedlings I see are within 10ft of it, not 50ft away (which is why I think they are suckers by the way).

It's considered invasive in many areas but it most certainly isn't one of the worst out there like....Guy's MIMOSA or Burning Bush or Buddleia or about 20 others that come to mind. I've got one and I am going to replace it- someday in the not so distant future. It does set a lot of seed for me but we just mow it down with the lawn mower. My Rose Of Sharon is somewhat confined by wetlands and they don't like wet feet so to speak. I planted mine before I realized it was a problem in my area. Another gift from my Mother-In-Law. That being said, if you like it plant another one. We've all got skeletons in our closets and it might not even be a problem child plant for you where you live.

What color is your plant Marian? Maybe I can rescue some of my seedlings for you and send them to you? I see a few that are about 10" tall that I missed and it wouldn't be that difficult for me to dig them up and send them to you. Mine are pure white.

Thanks for the offer, Lauren, Our church's minister has been promising me a white one for about 3 years now... but it is still a no-show. I am not worried. He is a very busy man.
I am not even going to care if I never get one. :-)
Here is a pic of the original's flowers;
http://pic16.picturetrail.com/VOL635/2413050/4795529/60796152.jpg

and one of it's seedling's
http://pic16.picturetrail.com/VOL635/2413050/4795529/60333031.jpg

Marian

Re: Mimosas...I rue the day I planted one on this place. I will be cutting them down fro the rest of my life! Since their roots go to China, I can only pull the first year ones( if I get to them soon enough). I have been cutting them as low as possible, and placing a can over the stump to smother them out. ( I learned that trick from a dear departed friend.) I am ashamed to say, that we have left a stooled-out one up our driveway. They do have lovely flowers, and the hummingbirds love them. I don't see any seedlings around it. I think... I hope... the deer eat them.

Ugh, I just typed an entire post and lost it. DG may be burping again.

Here goes at try #2.

Rats! Your seedling reverted to type. They do that sometimes.

I think the cultivar you have might be called 'White Dawn'. We had one here a few years ago that looked a lot like yours and I think that was what it was called but you might want to check it out. Ours went to Rose of Sharon heaven a while ago at my hand. I didn't need two of them here. It's sister will be joining it soon. I really want a Fringe Tree where the remaining Rose of Sharon is planted anyway.

Marian, how many of the whites do you want? I can see about 4-5 of them at the edge of the lawn before it swoops down to the wetlands. It won't cost more to mail more than one. They really aren't bigger than what I said before. D-Mail me your full name and address along with how many you want and they are yours. I was seriously going to kill them anyway and what the heck. My treat and no need for postage or anything. I was planning on going to the PO this Saturday so let me know before then.

Lauren

Ahh, Lauren! That is too generous of you. No, really, I do not need any of them, either from you, or from our evangelist, but thanks so much for the offer. If I thought that the seedlings could become a problem, I would destroy the ones that I've transplanted. They aren't even growing all that well.
How funny that you said that about the Fringe Tree. I was just thinking that I wished my young Fringe Tree was in the place where the original ROS is! But I would not dare try moving it ( the Fringe Tree).
I took some cuttings from the ROS , and stuck them in my cold frame. That is where I have so much success with other cuttings...Abelia, Hydrangea and weigela, espacially.

Sorry about your lost post. That really frustrates me to have that happen.

Marian

Marian, off topic, how far are you from the town of Bull Shoals? It's in Marion County....not to far from Mountain Home. My parents have had a second home down there for 30 yrs now. I love it!

Terry

Terry, Bull Shoals is about 50 miles northeast of us "as the crow flies", a bit farther by road. I have never been there, but my DH has. I 'have' been to Mountain Home.
It is all beautiful country, as is all the rest of Arkansas that I have seen.
How fortunate for your parents, and for you.

How long since you've been to Mountain Home? OMG! I can't believe how much that town has grown since 76. I still love it though. I do feel very fortunate that my parents own a home down there. It's my home away from home....you have to go. And if you do, go to Big Wheel and have a pizza burger, then go on down to the boat dock there in Bull Shoals. Find Ricky and tell him Terry sent you! If he looks confused...tell him "the princess" sent you! Then he'll know...lol...

Terry

Terry, It must have been about 6 years ago. A friend drove me there to a doctor appointment with a neurologist at the hospital. I'd love to go there and do the things that you said, but it is very unlikely. I don't get far from home due to my DH's failing health. And even if it wasn't for that, I am not up to driving myself to places that I am not familiar with. Maybe some day my son can take me. :-)

He (Ricky) dubbed me the princess. He bows to my every command, my every wish. Really, goddess, princess...what's the difference? You can pick whichever one you think suits me best. If you think I truly am more of a princess, then so be it. :o)

Marian, I'm sorry your husband's health isn't the best. Maybe your son can drive the two of you over to Bull Shoals and you can feed the fish and the ducks down at the boat dock. It's quite relaxing. And I have yet to find a road down there that doesn't give me the most exquisite scenery.

Youse Guy, to each his own. If the lady likes her Rose of Sharon, help her with it.
Marianinark, my mother always rooted cuttings from her Rose of Sharon by just sticking them in the ground and keeping them moist until they took off. She never had one that turned another color from the parent.

Oh, the one PG dubbed me and you picked right up on. I can always go back to calling you grumps ya know. Be nice :o)

Marian,
going once
going twice...

they'll get ripped out this weekend and if you end up changing your mind you will have to wait for volunteers next year!

LOL, I'm not criticizing Marian's choice of species, merely suggesting that it probably won't bring on any waves of alarm about being horribly invasive. I also think we should get the invasive subject out in the open occasionally because many people don't understand fully the nature and extent of the problem. I take what I consider to be a moderate position -- true invasives should be fought tooth and claw in the regions where they are (or could become) a problem. But useful garden trees that occasionally reproduce near the parent plant should not be lumped in with them or it will dilute the cause for concern and take much of the pleasure out of gardening.

Guy S.

Guy, exactly. Ecological invasives are not necessarily garden thugs and vice verse. A non-sterile RoS is a reseeding mess in the yard, but not a problem ecological invasive in all areas. It is, however, listed as an invasive exotic pest plant in Tennessee.

If anybody has any "Bluebird" seedlings ,send them my way. I ordered some from an online nursery last year and they never showed up.

I sort of figured it might be invasive down south because it volunteers heavily here.