Gardenality.com · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Planting
Althea, also known as Rose of Sharon, is highly adaptable, super heat tolerant, and exceptionally easy to grow. It easily adapts to various soil types, pHs, drought, pollution, etc. We suggest growing them in full sun to part shade and well-drained somewhat moist soil. They are perfect for hedges, beds, borders and mass plantings. As a heat-lover, this shrub is a treat for southern gardeners who crave plants that can stand up to summer's heat. The plant is quite drought-tolerant when established. In fact, if your rose of sharon has yellow leaves, it could be due to over-watering.

Gardenality.com · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Pruning
Although naturally a multi-stemmed shrub, this plant can be trained through pruning to have one to three main trunks; thus some people refer to it as rose of sharon "tree." To tree form, simply remove lower branches to a desired height. Though I rarely prune the canopy of Althea after two years, light pruning to shape or to remove stray or broken branches is okay thereafter. Since this is one of the shrubs that bloom on the current season's growth, prune in late winter or early spring. It can also be trained for espalier (trained to grow flat against a wall).

Gardenality.com · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Feeding
I feed my Althea in early spring with a well-balanced shrub and tree food or a natural or organic plant food.