Confederate Rose - Southern Chameleon

The Confederate rose has blooms that will change color throughout the season, giving a variety of looks to your garden. Although the name suggests a Southern bred flower, the Confederate rose is actually a Chinese breed called hibiscus mutabilis. It is very easily grown in the Southern climates so that has helped its popularity there and contributed to the name.

There are several stories as to how this rose got its name. One anecdote states that during a bloody Civil war battle that raged on all day, a Southern soldier was shot and bled near a flowering rose bush. The flowers, which were white that morning, turned a deep red by the evening after taking on the Confederate blood.

The point of the story is to show the amazing color changing features of this rose. The blooms are large and often doubled, although some may be single. Like the story, many flowers that are white in the morning turn to a deep red by the evening. The name mutabilis means changing so it is quite appropriate! They have a short life however, often dying by the next day. Other color combinations include an opening pink blossom that later turns into a white or perhaps a darker shade of pink later in its life. This bush can have multiple flowers at any one time. You can see this somewhat in the picture below.

The confederate rose is a shrub rose bush that can grow large. It has a unique seed that looks like a cotton ball. In fact, this plant often goes by the name cotton rose. It can get up to fifteen feet in height and ten feet in width so keep that in mind when planting.

This plant does best in USDA zones 7-9. If you are in a warmer area without freezing, blooms may blossom through the winter. Further north, if you have ground freezing, these should be grown in containers. A hard freeze will kill the stems so make cuttings if you want to preserve it over the winter. Although they look rough, the stems take readiliy to re-rooting and can be shared. However, for year long plantings, its really a rose best suited for the southern climates.

As with most roses, these do great in full sunlight and with well fortified soil. You can get some blooms with partial shade, however. It has some drought resistances, but obviously, its best to keep it watered. Early pruning is not encouraged, but some can be done to help It looks great as a solo speciman out on the lawn or garden as it can grow to its fullest.

With its changing blooms the confederate rose is a great talking piece for your garden. Just keep in mind the climate requirements and its should be a great addition!