A Garden Classic

 

 

The Classic Double Confederate Rose (Hibiscus mutabilis ‘Double Rose’) is one of those old southern, late season showstoppers that feels almost magical in the landscape.

 

Its blooms are large, ruffled, and open in shades of white or soft pink deepening to hot pink or rose-red by evening. This color changing habit gives the plant a multicolored display all at once, making it look like several varieties blooming on the same shrub. It’s flowers have a tissue-paper, heirloom look and the plant continues to produce huge, double blooms through early summer until frost.

 

These are large, fast-growing shrubs that can reach 7-8 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide in a single season offering color when many other perennials are fading. It’s broad, rich, green leaves create a beautiful, lush plant even before blooming. Confederate Roses work beautifully as a specimen plant or focal point.

 

They prefer full sun but welcome shade in the afternoon in our East Texas sun. Confederate Roses die back after frost but return vigorously each spring as a hardy perennial shrub should.
 

The Classic Double is a favorite but hard to find variety of Confederate Roses. Its late-season bloom time, dramatic color shifts, and easygoing nature make it a favorite for gardeners who want maximum impact with minimal fuss.