Common name Conferate rose, scientific name Hibiscus mutabilis.

A great small tree, but here around Raleigh they can sometimes bloom right before first frost which pretty much puts an end to it. On years with late frost the show is spectacular.

Wow, thanks! I've gone a whole Southern lifetime thinking that a Confederate Rose and a Rose of Sharon were the same thing. I now see that Confederate Rose is Hibiscus mutabilis and a Rose of Sharon is Hibiscus syriacus. That explains a lot!! I like the Confederate Rose much better...anybody gonna have some seeds this Fall?

Hibiscus mutabilis Seeds???

I lost a friend in Gulf Port, Miss. She was a Hibiscus growing freak. I never grew them before, but now I am building a Hibiscus garden in memory of her. I am looking for any kind of hibiscus, particulaly hardy types. Hibiscus mutabilis would be perfect for her - pink and sweet and unpredictable.
So, PLEASE put me on the seed trade list. (See my trade Exchange list)
Thanks,

~ Annie

Most folks grow them from cuttings. Since they bloom so late around here I don't believe I've ever seen a seed pod on them. But dig around on the web and I might be proven wrong.

Incidently - all kinds of plants are called Confederate Rose, it is almost as common as 'daisy'.

There is an all white version and I think a single petalled version also.

I have a small first year tree that may actually bloom this fall (not supposed to). They grow fast.

my confederate rose did not come back this spring. RIP.

i read that you can cut branches off the conf. rose in the fall & root them in water over the winter. the word is, they root easily this way, and you have some stock "just in case" it doesn't come back.

here's the link to the confederate rose-rooting
discussion ...

Here is a link that might be useful: rooting confederate rose discussion

You could contact Jeff Hayes or Xeramatheum and see if they will have any seeds this fall. Just do a search on this forum and you can get the e-mail addresses.

Thanks again, everyone. I guess the search is on for an actual tree then...one on the prolific and extremely healthy side.

I can't imagine getting up the nerve to ask a stranger for a cutting when I felt so awkward about ringing the doorbell and asking the name. Guess I'll have to throw the timid, sweet Southern Belle in the closet and work up some of that good old Southern gumption, huh?...LOL. Ya'll got my back on this one?

Annie, If I get my hands on seeds, I'll sure send some your way. If I get my hands on a tree, just hang in there and I'll eventually manage to get a cutting to you. I'm so sorry for your loss but love the tribute you're paying to her in your garden. I'm especially touched by the fact that you feel it fits her so well..."pink, sweet and unpredictable"...so few words and yet your love and respect for your friend are evident!

TriangleJohn, You've helped me recall my earliest teachings in the garden. I now remember that my Grandmother who gardened a lot did categorize an awful lot of flowering plants as "daisy" and flowering shrubs as "Confederate Rose". Everything else was "just a nice piece (or bit) of something-or-another that sweet old lady/man so-and-so gave me". Bless her heart, it didn't matter as long as it lived and "bloomed its little head off" in her garden. Thanks for the memories!!

While I'm here, let me say that I've lurked most of the Summer and have come to respect you all. What a great group of gardeners and "just plain good folks" as my Grandmother would've said.

hi homegrown :)
not only do we have your back, but we're cheering you on!
marsha

There is a most wonderous 7 foot hibiscus growing in the brick gardens at BB's. It is pink, sweet and unpredictable. The flowers are as large as a hand and a very soft pink. The foliage is greyish and soft, as soft as my grandma's hands were. They sell them there also, they are small though in two inch pots (with good roots though).

I have one growing in my yard now since of course I HAD to have one. If you want I can get the name for you. Adele

My confederate rose gave me seeds for the first time this past year. I usually cut it down before frost and root the cuttings, but was busy last fall and left the plant. I noticed the seed pods in late February and immediately gathered and refrigerated them. I did send some to somebody in South Africa, and I have just e-mailed him to see if they germinated for him. If you'd like some seeds to try, send me an e-mail.
K.

Adele, go ahead and get the name for us. Anything that blooms that late is a winner and must-have for many of us!
Could we cover the bush when an early frost is forecast, John?

What part of the display gardens is that in, dellare?

claire

Well I risked life and limb w/o a flashlight and went outside to pull the tag. It just has Hibiscus grandiflora-deciduous perennial/hardy z. 7/sun/color-pink/ht 8-10'/blooms-summer-fall. I googled h. grandiflora and came up empty handed. I wanted to include a link to a pic. If I think of it I will bring my camera to work tomorrow and post a picture tommorow evening. Adele

Yes, the best thing about H. grandiflora is the velvety leaves -- a lot like lamb's ears. There is a HUGE one at the Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill; it may be over 9' tall.

i got mine at pdn spring 04. when it arrived, it
was maybe a foot tall - it took off! it was at
least 7' tall when it bloomed - you're right, claire,
it was such a treat to have burst into bloom this
time of year. it's a large shrub. adele, bb *needs*
to go online!

i just looked up the info on the "confederate rose"
i had - it was a hibiscus mutabilis.

Here is a link that might be useful: hibiscus mutabilis

Holy Cow is that gorgeous. Oh brother, here we go again.

The one I am speaking of has the plain old single petal bloom. The leaves are much the same though, they have that cut to them. Adele

there's a pic on pdn's site of the single-flower form.

:)

This is why I love this forum! I learned something new tonight--I have been thinking these were both rose of sharon and didn't know the difference.

We never saw those in CT, PA, MA, MD & NY...zones 7-10 have something good about them. count me in.

Here is PD's page on hibiscus. It has H. grandiflorus, and 3 different kinds of H. mutabilis.

You'll see them in yards covered with old sheets and blankets when our first frost comes early. You'll also see them most often planted right up next to a house wall - just to give them that extra protection should the weather turn unfriendly for blooms.

I agree with the Confederate part of their name since they are commonly grown in the deep south - but they look more like peony to me than a rose. So I think we should start calling them Confederate Fake Peony Trees just to keep things simple.

or, as the rose forum would refer to it, CFPT :)
marsha

Thanks, Marsha...I knew I could count on ya'll!! I'm constantly "scouting" in order to choose my most likely target. So beware anyone in Upstate SC...the next stranger knocking at your door could be me! What and where is pdn?

Adele...Wow, what a brave lady you are. I'm very impressed that you'd brave the dark for those of us who couldn't bear the suspense of not knowing! I really like what you said about the leaves being a soft as your Grandmother's hands. Do you suppose the leaves on the double are just as soft? If not, I suppose I'll have to find one of each.

pdn is mecca (at least for me) ... they're a nursery in raleigh. the link is below - their print catalog is great
entertainment in the winter, and a nice reference year-round. the quality of their plants, and the packaging and shipping of them is the best i've encountered.

Here is a link that might be useful: PDN

Now I think there's some confusion between Velvet mallow (H. grandiflorus) and Confederate rose (H. mutabilis). Velvet mallow is the one with the soft leaves; Confederate rose has regular leaves.

Right. The one that I am talking about with the velvet leaves is H. grandiflorus.

The link that Marsha posted is for the H. mutabilis. PDN describes it as having soft, fuzzy leaves also. Adele

Now I see why this is so confusing, or maybe it's just me. :) When I grew a couple of Confederate roses a few years ago from seed, I don't remember the leaves being as soft and velvety as H. grandiflorus. I don't have the Confederate roses anymore because, like everyone else's it seems, mine didn't make it through the winter. :( I think where they were planted was too damp/wet, although they were not planted in a ditch or anything like that. However, in open well-drained locations, I've seen a couple Confederate roses around Smithfield that are several years old.

I have a few confederate roses,that I rooted during the winter.If someone will please let me know when the Raleigh swap is .I will root lots of them to bring.Just need to know when it is???????????/

I love mine and have grown many plants after reading about it on this web. Every Carolina gardener should grow this if they have the room.
{{gwi:585398}}

gorgeous, byrdlady.
reminds me why i bought a CR in the first place.
going to have to give it another go, especially
since i've learned you can easily root "just in case"
cuttings.
thanks for the beautiful pic.
marsha