Rose of Sharon leaf out - Ask Extension
I planted a Rose of Sharon last year. It bloomed and looked very healthy. This year I see no sign of life ( no leaves or green anywhere) though the br...
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Rose of Sharon leaf out #639163
Asked May 21, 2020, 8:12 PM EDT
I planted a Rose of Sharon last year. It bloomed and looked very healthy. This year I see no sign of life ( no leaves or green anywhere) though the branches are not brittle. Are these plants typically late to leaf out?....Or did the late freeze we had this spring damage it? How long should I wait before removing it? Does the Rose of Sharon typically leaf out from existing wood or start new growth from the bottom of the plant? Thank you for your help!
Boulder County Colorado
Expert Response
The late spring freeze damaged many shrubs. I have a couple that are just barely starting to leaf out now. The Rose of Sharon blooms on new growth. I would scratch the bark to see of there is green underneath. All of my shrubs appear to be alive but are not leafing out well. Just do a very small scratch to look for the green. I would give it time, I have been told that some of these shrubs may not look great until next year.