![]() Whether you plant it in a pot on a terrace, deck or balcony, or directly in the ground in a shrub and flower bed, Althea deserves particular care upon planting to ensure it grows and blooms well. Note that container-grown plantings tend to need more frequent watering as well as regular applications of fertilizer.Althea, also called Hibiscus or Rose of Sharon, is a very decorative shrub.Ĭaring for this plant, from planting to blooming and including watering and pruning, is easy and this will give your althea magnificent flowers. Plant your tree as per our directions above, using good-quality potting soil. Choose a container that has good drainage holes in the bottom and is about twice the size of the root ball. This allows you to use this versatile small tree on patios or decks or even flanking a front door. It’s possible to grow your Azurri Blue Satin® Rose of Sharon Althea Tree in a container, and it’s no more difficult than growing it in the ground. One way to minimize fungal infections is to always water at the base of the trunk and keep the area around the root zone free of leaf litter or other debris. Diseases include leaf spots, blight and canker. Consider releasing beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to fight infestations and keep insecticides as a last resort. ![]() You should be able to find traps for the latter at any garden store. Pests that may appear on your Azurri Blue Satin® Tree include whiteflies, aphids and Japanese beetles. You should also prune out any secondary trunks or suckers that appear around the base of the plant unless you wish your Rose of Sharon to grow to a bush form rather than a tree form. In spring, prune back flowering branches to a few buds for larger flowers. Remove dead, damaged or diseased branches whenever you see them. PollinationĪlthough the Azurri Blue Satin® Rose of Sharon Althea Tree may attract pollinating insects or birds such as hummingbirds, it is a sterile cultivar that does not set seed. Fertilize your Azurri Blue Satin® in early spring with a balanced, slow-release product designed for flowering trees and shrubs. A good way to see if the tree needs water is to check the soil two inches below the surface-if it’s dry there, give your tree a drink. Then, cut back to watering once-a-week, giving your tree about an inch of water each time. Water a newly-planted tree a few times a week until you see robust new growth on the branches. Apply a two to three-inch layer of organic mulch such as bark chips around the root zone to conserve moisture and hinder weed growth but keep it from touching the trunk, which can encourage rot. Holding it upright and steady, fill in around the roots with topsoil, tamping down as you go to eliminate air pockets. Place the tree in the hole, spreading out the roots fully. ![]() Dig a hole that’s as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. ![]() Unpot the tree and tease out any encircling roots, which can girdle the tree and slowly kill it. Site your Rose of Sharon Althea Tree in soil that drains well and receives at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. By Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on November 4, 2022
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