Lil Kim® Violet Rose of Sharon

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

3-4 Feet

Mature Spread

3-4 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 9

Good things do come in small packages! Like the other rose of Sharon shrubs in the Lil’ Kim® line, this pint-sized wonder is half the size of regular rose of Sharon, yet puts on an impressive flower show all summer long as the tight flower buds unfurl—new ones each day! Lil’ Kim Violet rose of Sharon has plum-violet flowers with a splash of red in the center that really stand out from the dark glossy foliage. It’s an easy-care plant that bees, butterflies and hummingbirds adore, and if that weren’t enough, it’s not relished by deer.

Lil’ Kim® Violet Rose of Sharon grows to 4 feet tall and wide with a very upright habit, making it suitable for so many garden uses: as a hedge; border along a walkway, wall or driveway; mixed in a bed of other flowering shrubs and perennials; foundation plant; or in a container. It requires a full-sun location (at least 6-8 hours of sun per day) for the best floral show. It drops its leaves in fall but the seedpods persist, adding some interest in the off season.

Lil’ Kim Violet Rose of Sharon Care

The key to success with rose of Sharon is sun, sun sun—the more the better! They accommodate just about any soil, short of a rock pile. The planting hole should be as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Add a little soil at the bottom of the hole so the root ball sits an inch above grade. Back-fill with the native soil and water well. Water regularly the first planting season and especially when the weather is hot and dry. If you are planting it in a container, you will need to water more often.

You’ll rarely need to prune Lil’ Kim® Violet rose of Sharon as it has a naturally compact habit, but cut any broken or wayward branches in early spring. Heavy pruning should be done in late winter because the plant blooms on new wood. Light trimming can be done anytime of the year though.

Lil’ Kim Violet Rose of Sharon Spacing

Due to its compact nature, Lil’ Kim Violet® rose of Sharon is well suited to smaller gardens and can even be used in containers. Just make sure the container can accommodate plenty of soil for the roots so they don’t dry out too quickly, 14 inches in diameter minimum. A low pot is best so it doesn’t become top-heavy as the shrub grows, or you can anchor a taller pot with rocks or bricks. In-ground, leave three feet or so all around the shrub so it has room to fill in and doesn’t crowd any adjacent plants. If you are planting a hedge, border or mass of these plants, you can pull them closer for a cohesive look, approximately 2 feet center-on-center.