Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Is it hot in here or is it Lil’ Kim® Red Rose of Sharon? This saucy little thing turns on the heat in the garden all summer long with deep rosy-red flowers that have a dramatic splash of red in the center. And look at that dwarf size—just 3-4 feet tall and wide. So you can tuck it in anywhere, even a pot! Like all Rose of Sharon shrubs, Lil’ Kim® loves hot weather and tolerates drought once established, so you won’t have to fuss over it when you’d rather be doing something else. In fact, this is about as easy-care as flowering shrubs get! Even the deer will cut you a break on this plant as they tend to forego it.
Lil’ Kim® is a sun worshiper, so site it where it can bask all day for the biggest flower show. It makes a nice anchor plant in a mixed border with sun-loving perennials. Also works great as a low hedge. And because of its small size, it can also be used in a large container. Wherever you plant it the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds will enjoy the abundant nectar it provides.
Lil’ Kim Red Rose of Sharon Care
Choose a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sun per day—more sun = more blooms! Any average garden soil will do, so no need to amend or worry if your soil is challenging. Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Slide the plant out of the pot and break up the roots a little. Back-fill with the native soil and water well. Keep watered during the first growing season.
Pruning Lil' Kim Red Rose of Sharon is not required, although some gardeners choose to cut back the plant to help rejuvenate it or to help keep its shape. If you do prune, do so in late winter or early spring. This plant blooms on new wood, so do not cut back in the summer. Trim dead and sick branches anytime of the year.
Lil’ Kim Red Rose of Sharon Spacing
Lil’ Kim® is half the size of full-size rose of Sharon shrubs, so it’s easy to find a place for it in the garden. If you are planting it in a perennial border, leave 2-3 feet all around it so it has room to fill in without crowding any other plants. You can fill in with annuals the first year or two if you like a fuller look. When planting in a mass or hedge, space them slightly tighter, 4 feet center-on-center. If you are planting Lil’ Kim® in a container, choose one that is at least 14 inches wide to accommodate the root ball and future growth.
Lil Kim® Red Rose of Sharon Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 9 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 3-4 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 3-4 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Pink, Red
- Flower Description
- Rosy Pink-Red
- Bloom Time
- Summer to Fall
- Blooms On
-
New Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Late winter to early spring, before new growth starts
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Dark Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering, Fall Interest, 3 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Lil Kim® Red Rose of Sharon
- Botanical Name
- Hibiscus syriacus 'SHIMRR38' USPP 27,195
- Brand
- Proven Winners
- Plant Type
- Deciduous
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!