@lasiewsk: • Visual Resemblance: The plant produces large, multi-petaled, blousy double-blossoms (4 to 6 inches wide) that closely look like old-fashioned roses rather than a typical tropical hibiscus. • Color-Changing Legend: The flowers open white or light pink in the morning and transition to dark pink or deep red by the evening. A Southern legend claims the color change to red represents the blood of wounded or dying Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War. Another myth suggests the morning shade of the bloom could "forecast" whether a soldier was well, wounded, or killed. • Southern Heritage & Widespread Growth: Thriving easily in the warm climate of the American South during the 19th century, the plant became a beloved regional heirloom. • The "Cotton Rose" Connection: Before it became associated with the Civil War, the plant was commonly called the "cotton rose" because its fuzzy, lobed leaves and round flower buds resemble cotton plants (both belong to the mallow family, Malvaceae).

Leslie’s Bumble and Bloom

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Region: US

Monday 26 October 2026 12:29:44 GMT