General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Tree
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 7a -17.8 °C (0 °F) to -15 °C (5 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 10b
Plant Height: 4-10 feet
Plant Spread: 3-6 feet
Leaves: Good fall color
Deciduous
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Pink
Red
White
Bi-Color: Some flowers bloom as white, then turn pink during the day. Some flowers bloom as pink, then turn fuchsia.
Bloom Size: 4"-5"
5"-6"
Flower Time: Late summer or early fall
Fall
Uses: Flowering Tree
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Humidity tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Suitable for wintersowing
Sow in situ
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Cuttings: Tip
Cuttings: Cane
Pollinators: Various insects
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots

Image
Common names
  • Confederate Rose
  • Cotton Rose
  • Hibiscus

Confederate Rose (Hibiscus mutabilis) was a featured
Plant of the Day for September 9, 2015.
Photo Gallery
Location: Savannah, Georgia (my garden)
Date: 2018-10-24
White blooms in the morning turn pink in afternoon and dark rose
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: 2018-10-28
Sun catching only the top of bloom through the trees

photo credit: Vinayaraj
Photo by Bubbles
Location: Savannah, Georgia (my garden)
Date: 2018-10-25
This plant just showed up in my yard. It's about 5 feet tall.
Location: Hood, Alabama 
Date: 2022-10-01
Location: Hood, Alabama 
Date: 2022-10-02
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: October
Bloom and buds
Location: Opp, AL  Z8b
Date: 2022-10-16
This is just 2 individual shrubs, planted next to each other.
Location: Enterprise, Al. 36330
Date: 2012-09-20
Bloom nearly ready to open
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-10-17
Hibiscus Confederate Rose - Plenus 001
Location: Hood, Alabama 
Date: 2022-09-23
Location: Savannah, Georgia (my garden)
Date: June 18 2017
Confederate Rose #pollinator
Location: Enterprise, Al. 36330
Date: 2012-09-24
A fresh new bloom
Location: Western North Carolina
Date: Summer
  • Uploaded by vic
Location: My garden
Date: 2016-10-17
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: 2018-10-12
Entire plant in large pot
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: 2016-09-27
same white bloom turned pink a few hours later
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: 2016-09-27
Location: Opp, AL  Z8b
Date: 2023-11-12
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: October
Bloom, 15 ft over the gate
Location: My garden
Date: 2019-10-10
Location: My garden
Date: 2019-10-10
Location: Savannah, Georgia (my garden)
Date: 2019-10-02
Some blooms are pretty from the back as well as the front.
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2012-10-29
Location: My Yard
Location: all photos from my garden
Date: 2015-11-05
Location: Tampa Bay, Florida 
Date: 2021-10-11

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials
Location: My garden
Date: 2018-12-08
One single bloom -
Location: Prairieville, LA
Date: 2013-10-29
Sometimes the blooms  do not turn completely pink, but rather loo
Location: Opp, AL  Z8b
Date: 2022-09-04
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: 2016-09-27
photo taken at noon
Photo by Bubbles
Location: Arkansas Zone 8
Date: 2011-11-20
Confederate Rose, Hibiscus mutabilis

Date: 2013-09-19
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: October
Location: Lowndesboro AL
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2015-09-27
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2015-09-27
Location: Central Florida, my back yard
Date: 2023-01-08
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2012-10-29
Location: My Yard
In my new homes landscape.
Location: Washington Oaks State Park, Palm Coast, Florida
Date: 2012-10-22
Location: Washington Oaks State Park, Palm Coast, Florida
Date: 2012-10-22
Location: Alabama Gulf Coast (z8b)
Date: November
Location: Enterprise, Al. 36330
Date: 2012-09-24
Aging blooms along with buds
Location: all photos from my garden
Date: 2015-06-28
Location: Aberdeen, NC 
Date: August 9, 2022
Confederate-rose #83 nn; LHB page 666, 117-22-18, "Ancient Greek
Location: Elkhart
Date: 2022-07-25
Location: Hood, Alabama 
Date: 2022-07-14
2022 Cuttings Rooted And Potted
Location: My garden
Date: 2019-10-08
Location: My Yard
In my new homes landscape.
Location: Enterprise, Al. 36330
Date: 2012-09-24
Shows the changing colors as the blooms age
Location: Hawaii
Photo Forest and Kim Starr - Plants of Hawaii
Location: My house Nacogdoches, Tx
Date: Fall
Location: Aberdeen, NC 
Date: August 9, 2022
Confederate-rose #83 nn; LHB page 666, 117-22-18, "Ancient Greek
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: 2014-10-12
Location: Zone 9 Louisiana in my backyard
Date: 2018-11-12
Caught it changing colors then it got deep pink next day
Location: AZ
Date: Spring
This is the first bloom on a new plant, I love it!
Location: Chapin, SC
Date: 2016-10-26
We call this the magic flower since it changes color.
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2015-09-27
Location: Waynesboro MS
Date: 2011-09-26
Location: Orangeburg, SC
Date: 2015-07-12
Confederate Rose leaves
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2014-09-12
Location: Orlando Florida
Date: 2011-10-15
Hibiscus mutabilis

Date: 2019-10-10
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: 2009-11-01
Confederate RoseTree, about 15 ft. tall
Location: my garden Bullard, TX
Date: 2016-11-11
Photo by greene
Location: Opp, AL  Z8b
Date: 2023-06-20
Volunteer plant
Location: Alabama Gulf Coast (z8b)
Date: November
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: 2016-09-27
Back of leaves
Location: My house Nacogdoches, Tx
Date: 2012-10-22
Location: My house Nacogdoches, Tx
Date: Fall
Location: my backyard
Date: October 14, 2012
These attract all manner of bees!
Location: Savannah, Georgia (my garden)
Date: August 10 2016
Confederate Rose seeds in pod
Location: Elkhart
Date: Summer'19
once thought to be a Hardy Hibiscus .... ...
Location: Savannah, Georgia (my garden)
Date: August 10 2016
Confederate Rose seed pods
Location: Opp, AL  Z8b
Date: 2021-12-04
Location: Waynesboro MS
Date: 2011-08-04
Location: Elkhart
Date: 2022-07-25
Location: Elkhart
Date: 2020-07-29
Location: Elkhart
Date: 2020-07-29

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials
Location: my garden Bullard, TX
Date: 2016-10-26

Date: 2013-09-01
Location: my garden
Location: Chapin, SC
Date: 2016-09-23
Location: Chapin, SC
Date: 2016-09-23
Location: Elkhart
Date: 2022-07-25
Location: my garden 
Date: 2017-10-22
Location: my garden 
Date: 2017-10-22
This plant is tagged in:
Image

Comments:
  • Posted by SCButtercup (Simpsonville SC - Zone 7b) on Jul 5, 2014 10:47 AM concerning plant:
    I winter-sowed this from seed in February and I now have a small plant that is thriving in a container in part shade. The plan is to transplant it in the fall with some protective leaf mulch when my zone 7/8 cools down and weather gets rainy. Will post more info in spring.
  • Posted by Seedfork (Enterprise, Al. 36330 - Zone 8b) on Oct 27, 2017 12:19 PM concerning plant:
    This summer was the first year after at least 10 years that I actually had new plants volunteer from seed. I had tried on several occasions to plant seed and none ever geminated. This year I kept finding new small plants popping up all in the lawn. This year my neighbor discovered a plant growing probably 100 feet from any of the others I had given her. It is amazing how fast these plants can grow.
  • Posted by tuffykay56 (Tyler) on Oct 14, 2012 4:21 PM concerning plant:
    This is my first blooming season. It is a spectacular shrub! It attracts all manner of bees and the blooms are so large that there are multiple bees collecting pollen in one flower.
  • Posted by Seedfork (Enterprise, Al. 36330 - Zone 8b) on Apr 15, 2014 6:26 PM concerning plant:
    This plant is very easy to root from cuttings. I have had no luck starting it from seed.
Plant Events from our members
piksihk On July 3, 2021 Plant Ended (Removed, Died, Discarded, etc)
Freeze got it
piksihk On October 7, 2019 Bloomed
Double pink
piksihk On March 6, 2018 Obtained plant
jeannette
piksihk On November 12, 2017 Bloomed
pink
piksihk On February 7, 2017 Maintenance performed
pruned - rooting cutting
piksihk On October 27, 2016 Bloomed
plant from LynneTX 2015
first pink blooms
piksihk On April 29, 2016 Seeds sown
pink seeds 2011; no germination
lovesblooms On March 9, 2020 Seeds germinated
lovesblooms On February 26, 2020 Seeds sown
double pink; indoors, heat, lights
lovesblooms On March 3, 2018 Seeds sown
winter sown
WebTucker On August 9, 2022 Bloomed
» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Hibiscus mutabilis? by eclayne Dec 18, 2015 10:22 PM 4
Not Malvaviscus but Hibiscus by Danita Jul 26, 2022 8:13 AM 13

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