All flowers
Cotton Rosemallow Wikimedia Commons
Malvaceae

Cotton Rosemallow

Hibiscus mutabilis

Transformation and beauty.

Family
Malvaceae
Genus
Hibiscus
Native to
China, Southeast Asia
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Type
Deciduous shrub
Height
200-400 cm
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Moist, fertile, well-drained
Water
Moderate to high
Hardiness
7-11
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • Cotton rosemallow flowers change color throughout the day, opening white and turning pink by evening.
  • The species name 'mutabilis' means 'changeable,' referring to this remarkable color transformation.
  • In Chinese culture it is called the 'drunk hibiscus' because of its blushing color change.
  • A single bush may display white, pink, and deep rose flowers simultaneously at different stages.
  • The soft, cotton-like seed fibers give this species part of its common name.

Color meanings

0

Change

1

Delicate beauty

2

Fleeting nature of life

Uses

  • Ornamental shrub
  • Chinese traditional gardens
  • Screen planting
  • Cut flowers