Not sure if this is a harvest, a shrub, or a flower question....

[shelleyd2008]

My dad has a lot of rose of sharon bushes, and I was wondering when and how to collect the seeds? They have tons of pods on them, and I know many people like them. I want to save some to swap with

 

[lesa]

Sorry nobody answered this... I have lots of Rose of Sharon here in zone 4. I have never tried to plant the seeds. They are so easy to dig up and transplant...They send up so many babies. My hedge came from my brother's house in New Jersey. Let us know if you have any luck with planting the seeds. Maybe I am just in the wrong zone....

 

[journey11]

The pods will get dry and brown and pop open revealing the seeds. They reproduce pretty well.

 

[obsessed]

If you get any seeds I would totally trade for some. I was going to buy some pink swirl hibicus that looks similar from burpee but the seeds are like 5 bucks for 10.

 

[Broke Down Ranch]

Same here for seed trade! My Rose of Sharon was doing great, new growth, the whole 9 yards. Then one day it just croaked....

 

[Greensage45]

I really wish there was a better way of distinguishing one color from the next.

What I mean is, over the years I would run into an Althea and say "oh my I must have some of you" and I take seeds. Now, I have like 5-6 seed packs of Althea seeds but I failed to label them because, I guess at the time, I knew they are never "true to seed" and will cross with other colors and create new varieties.

If anyone wants Althea, I can guarantee some from this plant:

Or I can give you some of my "Mystery" seeds. You may PM me if you want any.

Ron

 

[ducks4you]

The pods will get dry and brown and pop open revealing the seeds. They reproduce pretty well.

I have 2 of them TRYING to be 200--this is an understatement!!
I pull them out every year becuase the two I have are growing right next the garage, and I'll soon have a FOREST!

Actually, I'm going to try potting some this winter. When we replace the old cattle fencing and put it nice horse fencing we didn't replace it all since I have some of it in fairly good shape on the street side and separating our neighbor's yard with us. Well, storm damage brought down his oak with a 3 ft. trunk and crash on the fence. He plans to remove that section of fence, but that would take away a perimeter that my 2 (two-year-old) dogs Know is the property line. So...I'm hoping to plant a row of Rose of Sharon to create a fence...with a nice smell. One of mine is pink and the other is lavendar-colored.

 

[ducks4you]

Ya want some? PM me--let me know what color. Sorry, no pics of mine but here's what the lavendar ones look like (the pink ones look like the pic above)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2285/2173105010_1d4f031714.jpg

 

[Greensage45]

That is a lovely color Ducks4you! I almost see blue!

 

[ducks4you]

That is a lovely color Ducks4you! I almost see blue!

REMEMBER, these are not my plants, but, yes they are kinda bluish-lavendar. (Mine are done flowering for the season.) I'm not found of much pink, but I like the pink bush, too.

They are REALLY hardy--I have pruned them every month of the year--in Zone 6!!--and I can't kill 'em, which translates to "you won't kill 'em, either."