Confederate rose.. (flowers, growing, fertilizing, Hibiscus) - Garden -Trees, Grass, Lawn, Flowers, Irrigation, Landscaping... - City-Data Forum

Keeper · 10-22-2007, 04:03 PM

Not sure if that is the correct name but my neighbor said that is what it is..
A bush with hugh flowers that are white and then turn pink to dark red. Has big leaves and grows very tall.
I have the same bush in my yard and it hasn't bloomed but my neighbor's bush is blooming like crazy. Even a new plant she has is blooming

I fertilzed it thinking it needed a boost, still no flowers..

Anyone have any ideas on why mine isn't blooming???

wit-nit · 10-22-2007, 05:38 PM

The name Confederate Rose pertains to a certain Hibiscus plant. But I haven't heard of any hibiscus the changes colors like you mention.
Hydrangeas turn color. Would yours possibly be one of these. Can you post a clear pix?

Padgett2 · 10-22-2007, 06:06 PM

that's right, it's called a Confrederate rose. Here's a link

Floridata: Hibiscus mutabilis

some do seem to be delayed in blooming, I don't know why. My son has one that is still got new leaf growth coming on. I can see the tiny little flower buds down in the tip of the stems. I think mind just gets a lot more sun.

Keeper · 10-22-2007, 06:51 PM

Dang.. I know the one I have is several years old because of its size, but I have only lived here 2 years. Maybe sun is the key.. It is next to the deck so only the top part gets sun..

katie9161 · 03-24-2009, 05:28 PM

"The Story" of the Confederate Rose During the Civil War, when the Confederate Soldiers were shot and bleeding, each morning the soldiers would be leaned up against a flowering tree, and as they bled the white flower would turn pink as as night fell and the soldiers bled out and died the pink flower would turn red thus the name Confederate Rose. Old story but a good one ! Hope y'all enjoyed!!

paperhouse · 03-25-2009, 05:32 PM

They should be planted in full sun. Make sure you aren't fertilizing with a high nitrogen fertilizer. The middle number is the one you want to be the highest for blooming plants. A high first number gives you nothing but foliage growth.

Jungle George · 03-26-2009, 06:29 AM

As stated above, it is a hibiscus & needs LOTS 'o' sun!!

As for fertilizers, the easiest way for the layperson to figure out which to use for what is a ditty I told clients...

All fertilizer has 3 numbers such as "10-10-10", "5-10-5", etc. When you look at the numbers think "leaves, flowers, roots".

If you have a foliage-type plant, the 1st number should be higher. If you have a flowering plant, the 2nd number should be higher. If you need to promote stronger roots, the last number should be higher.

Makes it less "mysterious"....

southernnaturelover · 03-26-2009, 01:37 PM

Hmm, down here near the coast they look wilted in the middle of the day with too much sun. The best looking ones (and biggest) I have seen are growing in the filtered shade of tall pines.

jeanniemarie55 · 05-28-2010, 09:35 AM

I have a large Conferderate Rose that has been in my yard for about 4 years now. It reached its maximum height of about 15 feet the second year. It is in full sun and it gets watered every day. Leaves do drop off when it doesn't get enough water though.

Funny thing about this one, it doesn't bloom until October.......wished it would bloom in the spring because everything around it is blooming now. When Hurricane Ike blew through 2 years ago, it was covered with flower buds. I feared that Ike would blow all the buds off. Fortunately, it bloomed profusely and more beautiful than the year before.

The blooms remind me of peonies only there are what looks like four blooms in one......................BEAUTIFUL!!!