Mutabilis (moo-tab-a-leese)
China Rose, date and breeder unknown

Date Planted:  Spring 2001
Source:  rooted cutting, rose trade
Exposure:  Full sun all day

Single flowers start light yellow, change to pink then crimson. A vigorous grower and tall, inclined to lean out; support it and enjoy the summer through winter display.

Many China Roses deepen in color as their flowers are exposed to sunlight, but Mutabilis carries this to the extreme. Bright orange buds open into single flowers of soft honey-yellow. By their second day they change back to orange or peachy-pink, and then deepen to carmine on day three. Since the clustered flowers open sequentially, all of these colors appear at once upon the plant. The effect might be garish on any other rose, but with its loose and elegantly twisted petals, Mutabilis looks as if a flock of dainty butterflies had invaded the garden. In fact, Mutabilis is sometimes sold as "The Butterfly Rose".

Though Mutabilis lacks fragrance, it redeems itself with prolific and continuous repeat bloom throughout the growing season. The fine, elegantly pointed, reddish foliage makes an ideal background for the multicolored flowers. Healthy and vigorous, Mutabilis is an outstanding garden plant that is especially useful in making transitions between yellow and pink colors in the border. The plants usually reach 4 or 5 feet, but in warm climates, they will grow much larger, even climbing to 8 feet or beyond. Hardy to USDA Zone 6."

I've been told that I can expect Mutabilis to get HUGE. She was 4' tall in May (the photo above)  - click the photo or here to see how much she'd grown by early September! She is planted in the center of my corner garden where her multicolored blooms can unite the colors of the surrounding roses.

If your zone and growing conditions can support it, this rose is a must.  It makes a spectacular specimen plant, as well as a graceful addition to the mixed border.

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