Jackie Thomason

My son had a large bush in his yard which I could not identify. It was a mystery to me. A few months later during a trip to a plantation in Charleston, South Carolina, I discovered that this bush was a “Confederate Rose.” It is also known as “Cotton Rose” or “Rose Mallow.”

This plant is not actually a rose. It is a hibiscus. Hibiscus mutabilis, which in Latin means “changes.” When it flowers in the fall, the flowers are white in the morning, turning to pink in mid-day and red in the same day.

These plants grow very fast, are easy to care for, and thrive in the South. They are easy to propagate and to make plants from cuttings.

This plant is native to China and is considered a large bush or a multi-stemmed tree. It was first planted in the United States in the 1600s and adapted well to the Southern United States.

The legend of the Confederate Rose makes it a true southern plant. According to the legend, the rose was pure white. During the Civil War, a confederate soldier was fatally wounded in battle and fell upon the roses as he lay dying. During the next two days as he was dying, he bled more and more on the flower till at last bloom it was covered with his blood. When he died, the flower died with him. Thereafter the Confederate Rose opens white and, over the course of the two days the blooms last, they turn gradually from white to pink to almost red, and then the flower finally falls from the bush.

Another story about the Confederate Rose was that the South was devastated by the Civil War. Many of its cities, towns, and much of the countryside were left in ruins and not spared from the destruction of the war. When the weary, ragged, and defeated Southern soldiers came home, it became a custom for the women to present the men with a Confederate Rose to show their appreciation and to welcome them home.

The Confederate Rose has a great story to go along with its beautiful blooms and, because it thrives in our Southern climate, it makes it an excellent selection for the landscape. It has become a favorite passalong plant. Even though it may die back in cold weather, it is hardy and will come back from the ground in the spring.

The Confederate Rose deserves a place in your landscape. It is beautiful planted alone but does well with other mixed summer flowering plants. Just be sure to provide plenty of space for this large, showy, and easily grown plant so that its blooms can be appreciated in our East Texas area.