Download Confederate Rose, Hibiscus Mutabilis

Flowering Shrubs
Confederate Rose
Maureen McCracken
“A rose by any other name” . . . just might be a Confederate Rose. However, Confederate Rose, Hibiscus mutabilis is not
a rose at all, but a member of the Malvaceae family. Other common names include Cotton Rose or Cotton Rosemallow.
Originally from Southeast China, Confederate Rose is listed as hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10, but does very well
in Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s 7b climate.
Confederate Rose is a botanical heirloom, a true
pass along plant. As such, it is unlikely that you
will see this at the big box stores or neighborhood
garden centers.
This deciduous shrub has been grown in Southern
gardens for centuries. Although Confederate Rose
is a perennial and dies back to the ground in the
winter, it grows to an amazing height of 10-12 feet
each season, and can grow up to 10 feet wide.
Obviously, it is important to consider its size when
choosing a sunny location for this flowering shrub.
It is best used as a specimen plant where it can
show off its huge, papery, hibiscus-type flowers.
The flowers open white, and then deepen to shades
of pink as they age. On any given day, there will be
flowers in various shades of white, pale pink, and
deeper pink on the same shrub. This changing
flower color is reflected in the botanical name
mutabilis, which comes from the Latin word mutare,
meaning to change.
Confederate Rose is a progressive bloomer; as
older blooms fade new buds open. The large
leaves are palmate and slightly furry. Due to their large size and soft nature, the leaves will wilt in hot, dry weather
without regular watering. Otherwise, this old fashioned Southern shrub is trouble free and a valuable addition to a
butterfly garden.
When placing Confederate Rose in your garden keep in mind that this plant dies back after the first hard frost. It has
absolutely no winter interest at all. Planting at the back of the garden is useful to camouflage this dormant stage.
Late fall, prior to the first freeze, is the best time to take cuttings to propagate and to pass along to friends. The entire
plant should be cut back to approximately 4 inches above the ground, as the next season's growth will come from the
roots. Cuttings for propagation should be 12-15 inches long. Place the cuttings in quart jars and place in a warm, sunny
location. The cuttings should develop good roots and leaves in approximately 8 weeks, at which time they can be
transferred to a pot. Larger cuttings will produce the best plants and should bloom the first year after planting. Cutting
are fragile, however, so they need to be kept in a warm, sunny window until late April when there is no chance of a frost.
The good news is the new plants should grow 6-8 feet the first year and have blooms in the fall.
For best performance, provide a light fertilizer at the base of the plant in spring, water well until established, and then sit
back on your porch swing and enjoy this Southern favorite for years to come. MM
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The non-copyrighted picture illustrating this article was gleaned from the Internet.
Maureen McCracken is an Extension Master Gardener who volunteers in Mecklenburg County,
North Carolina.