Cotton Rose

Hibiscus Mutabilis
Confederate Rose | Cotton Rose | Changing Rose Hibiscus
Add a touch of old-fashioned Southern charm to your garden with Hibiscus mutabilis, a unique and spectacular flowering shrub famous for its color-changing blooms. The large, rose-like flowers open as soft white or pale pink in the morning, gradually deepening to rich pink and sometimes red by evening, creating a constantly changing display throughout the blooming season.
Unlike tropical hibiscus, Confederate Rose is a hardy perennial shrub in many warmer climates and returns each year with vigorous growth. Its large, lush foliage and impressive flowers make it a standout specimen plant for cottage gardens, borders, and landscapes.
Plant Details:
🌸 Flower Color: White → light pink → deep pink/red as blooms age
🌿 Plant Type: Deciduous flowering shrub
☀️ Light: Full sun to partial shade
📅 Bloom Time: Late summer through fall (often until frost)
🦋 Features: Large double or semi-double flowers, attracts pollinators, heat tolerant
🌱 Hardiness Zones: 7–11
📏 Mature Size: 8–15 ft tall and wide (can be pruned smaller)
Garden Uses:
• Stunning specimen shrub
• Cottage and Southern-style gardens
• Flowering hedge or privacy screen
• Back of borders
• Large container plant in colder climates
Care Tips:
Plant in rich, well-drained soil and provide regular moisture during the growing season for the best growth and flowering. Prune heavily in late winter or early spring to encourage fresh, vigorous shoots and more blooms. In colder areas, the plant may die back after frost but typically regrows from the roots in spring.
Why Gardeners Love It:
✔ Unique blooms that change color over time
✔ Large, showy rose-like flowers
✔ Fast-growing and easy to grow
✔ Excellent late-season garden color
✔ A historic Southern garden favorite
Hibiscus mutabilis is a true garden conversation piece—one shrub that gives you multiple flower colors in a single day!