Started Rose of Sharon at the wrong time — lessons learned

I planted Rose of Sharon at entirely the wrong point in the growing calendar and spent the first few months wondering what I'd done wrong. failure to flower when pruned at the wrong time didn't help matters. Once I understood mulching around the base annually to feed and retain moisture things improved substantially.

permanent woody structure providing year-round garden framework is what makes this plant worth persisting with. In a formal clipped topiary or box hedge it finally looks as good as I'd imagined. winter bark and evergreen foliage interest redeemed the whole effort. If you're starting out: do your timing research before you plant.