Is Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus) beneficial for pollinators?
When I think of pollinator-friendly plants, my mind immediately jumps to the classics like butterfly bush (Buddleia), milkweed (Asclepias), or bee balm (Monarda). However, there are so many more pollinator-friendly plants waiting to be added to your garden, like our newest addition, Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus).
If you think of a flower as a billboard for pollinators, then rose of Sharon is like a giant flashing neon sign. This beautiful flowering shrub is a staple landscaping plant for creating vertical interest alongside homes, privacy hedges, or standing alone as a show-stopping specimen plant. The vibrantly-colored petals with hues of pink, purple, and blue form a massive flower with a prominent staminal column are a standout no matter rose of Sharon is planted. It's hard for pollinators (and gardeners) to miss! A deep raspberry-colored eye in the center of the flower guides pollinators to its nectar reserves for a sweet, nutritious feast.
In order to ensure efficient pollination, a large staminal column (tube covered in stamens) rubs against the pollinators like bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies as they reach for nectar. The result? Pollinators, especially bees, are bathed in pollen!
Don't worry, the pollinators don't seem to mind. You'll see them happily buzzing around to more flowers. Rose of Sharon is also long-blooming, creating a buffet for pollinators from summer through early fall.