Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Hibiscus mutabilis
Confederate Rose
The Hibiscus mutabilis, commonly known as the Confederate Rose, does something no other hibiscus does: the large double flowers open white in the morning, deepen to pink through the day and finish deep red by evening, so a single bush carries three colours at once.
It is a fast, large deciduous shrub from southern China with downy maple-like leaves, used as an autumn feature, an informal screen and a courtyard specimen.
Specifications
- Height2 to 4 metres
- Width2 to 3 metres
- Native toSouthern China; long cultivated across East and Southeast Asia
- FoliageLarge, downy, lobed maple-like leaves; deciduous to semi-deciduous
- Growth rateFast
Conditions
- SoilPrefers fertile, well-drained soils and tolerates a range including clay
- LightFull sun to partial shade
- WaterModerate; regular water through the growing season
- ClimateThrives in subtropical and warm temperate regions, including sheltered coastal positions, and tolerates light frost
Additional Features
- FlowersLarge double flowers opening white, deepening to pink and finishing red on the same day, in autumn
- UsesIdeal for feature planting, informal screening, courtyard and boundary beds
- SpacingPlant 2 to 3 metres apart for an informal screen
- Low MaintenancePrune hard in late winter to keep the plant compact and improve flowering
- Pest ResistanceGenerally robust; monitor for aphid and whitefly on soft growth
- Seasonal AppealAn autumn flowering season, when most large shrubs have finished
- VersatilityGrown as a specimen, an informal hedge or a back-of-border filler
The Confederate Rose flowers when little else does, and the colour change through a single day is a talking point in any scheme.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026