Information on Confederate Roses

Environment

• The Confederate rose, otherwise known as Hibiscus mutabilis, has single or double blooms, with large petals and an array of colors from pastels to vivid reds. Generally shrub-like, the plants can sometimes stand 12 feet high and, in rare instances, even taller. They put on a dramatic show from midsummer until fall, with the flowers blooming a very pale color, gaining color over the course of two or three days and then fading to pale again. They are deciduous plants and lose their leaves over the winter, coming back first with a profusion of green leaves in the spring, then lots of blooms.

Propagation

• Take cuttings of stems in the early spring to propagate your Confederate rose. Choose a larger stem that looks healthy and cut it about a foot or more from the tip. Place it in water until it grows root hairs, then transplant into a pot with good potting soil. In the early spring, transplant outdoors and feed with a standard garden fertilizer. Confederate roses can also be grown from the fuzzy seed that appears after the bloom dies. Plant these in a potting medium and keep moist. Transplant in early spring once the seedling has several sets of leaves.

Care and Feeding

• When grown in the proper environment, the Confederate rose thrives with little care. It likes a rich soil that drains well and plenty of sunshine. Water the older plants deeply but not frequently. Younger Confederate roses need water a little more often. Confederate roses bloom progressively, but if you want to optimize blooming, pinch off the old faded flowers before the fuzzy seed forms. You can also prune off the top third of the plant when blooming slows down. Fertilize your Confederate rose in the early spring with a slow-release garden fertilizer intended for shrubbery.

Additional Facts

• Some people call the Confederate rose a cotton rose. The nickname comes from the fuzzy seed that develops when the bloom has died. Another nickname is rose mallow. Butterflies and hummingbirds love the Confederate rose flower. Weevils and caterpillars are among the Confederate rose's enemies but can be controlled with an insecticide.