# Rose-of-sharon (*Hypericum calycinum*) The Rose-of-sharon is a beautiful shrub that blooms with bright yellow flowers. It's a great plant for gardens and can attract butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Rose-of-sharon](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hypericum_calycinum_3.jpg&width=800) Photo: Franz Xaver, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hypericum_calycinum_3.jpg) ## Appearance The Rose-of-sharon is a deciduous shrub or small tree, typically displaying lush green, lobed leaves. Its most striking feature is its large, trumpet-shaped flowers, which come in shades of white, pink, purple, and blue, often with a contrasting blotch in the center, setting it apart from smaller-flowered shrubs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malpighiales - **Family:** Hypericaceae - **Genus:** Hypericum ## Interesting facts - Did you know Rose-of-sharon flowers close up at night and open again in the morning? - Hummingbirds love to sip nectar from its big, colorful flowers in late summer and fall. - Its name comes from the biblical Sharon plain, but it's actually native to Asia, not the Middle East! - Some types of Rose-of-sharon can grow to be taller than a basketball hoop! ## Special abilities - **Resilient Roots:** Rose-of-sharon has strong roots that help it survive dry spells and poor soils, making it very tough. - **Pollution Power:** Rose-of-sharon can handle air pollution and difficult city conditions, helping it grow where other plants struggle. - **Persistent Petals:** Rose-of-sharon keeps blooming for months, providing a long-lasting nectar source for buzzing insects. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 200-400 cm - **Spread:** 150-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 5-10 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Painted lady butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — drinks nectar from flowers - **Shelter:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — nests in dense branches ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always be gentle around plants and don't eat any parts without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Rose-of-sharon? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Rose-of-sharon? 200-400 cm ### How wide does Rose-of-sharon spread? 150-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on Rose-of-sharon? 5-10 cm ### When does Rose-of-sharon bloom? Summer to fall ### Is Rose-of-sharon edible? Yes ### Is Rose-of-sharon toxic? None ### What is Rose-of-sharon's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cougar-mountain-regional-wildland-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Ruth Bancroft Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ruth-bancroft-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crystal-springs-rhododendron-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Queen Anne Boulevard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/queen-anne-boulevard) — Washington, US · Park - [Portland Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/portland-aquarium) — Oregon, US · Zoo [View all places to see Rose-of-sharon](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/rose-of-sharon-951) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Rose-of-sharon: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rose-of-sharon-951)