Do you ever come home with a plant you don’t know what to do with and just stick it in the most neglected, out-of-the-way place, dust off your hands, and say, “Well, little plant, good luck”? I know you do. All gardeners do this.

That’s what I did, a few years ago, to a little ‘Purple Pillar’ rose of Sharon that Proven Winners mailed to me so I could try it in my garden. I carried it around, looking for a sunny-ish spot (my garden is mostly shady), and planted it just inside the gate to the side yard, along a path I rarely use. Occasionally I catch a glimpse of it through the family room window.

Despite such chancy beginnings, ‘Purple Pillar’ has thrived, gaining vigor and height each year. Following a wet spring and early summer, when it put on a burst of growth, this hardy hibiscus now stands tall and slender, its showy flowers sporting lavender outer petals with a cherry-red, starburst center. It gets a long blast of mid-morning to midday sun and a bit of water from the sprinkler system once a week but no pampering.

Rose of Sharon grows well in Austin’s climate, blooming even in shade. But it can get bushy and wide, with long, whip-like branches that overwhelm tight spaces. Not ‘Purple Pillar’. It remains columnar, growing just 2 to 3 feet wide and 10 to 16 feet tall. That makes it a good fit for narrow side yards or as a vertical punctuation mark in a perennial bed.

Note: My Plant This posts are written primarily for gardeners in Central Texas. The plants I recommend are ones I’ve grown myself and have direct experience with. Check online forums for your region or local independent nurseries to see if a particular plant might work in your area.

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Digging Deeper

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