Rose of Sharon: A Showy Summer Bloomer

7. Few pests mess with this shrub

This plant’s most likely enemy, the Japanese beetle, isn’t difficult to control. Once discovered, these bugs are big enough for gardeners to shake or pick off the plant’s blooms. Horticulture specialists advise removing them, then dropping the pests into a container of soapy water to end the infestation. Large holes or skeletonized plants are signs of the infestation. Keep an eye out for root-knot nematodes as well. If your shrub starts to wilt and dry up, this is likely the cause. A sticky residue on the leaves of your Rose of Sharon means your plant has an aphid problem. Ladybugs, frogs, and toads consume aphids in the natural world. If there’s none around, try spraying aphid-ridden plants with a soap-and-water mixture.