Transplanting Tips for the Confederate Rose Bush

The Confederate Rose Bush is not really a rose, but a hibiscus of the Malvaceae family. It is a large shrub that, left unpruned, will grow into a large tree. Confederate roses are deciduous trees that lose their leaves during the winter.

Confederate Rose Care
Hibiscus mutabilis blooms in the late summer and early fall. The Confederate Rose flower starts out white, then changes to a deep pink over three or four days. Confederate Rose is available in single- and double-flowered cultivars. Both produce large flowers, about three to five inches across.

The Confederate Rose bush is a low-maintenance plant and is adaptable to most conditions. It prefers some shade to sun and likes regular watering, but it is drought tolerant and can thrive in zones 7 to 9. It's a fast grower that can be pruned down to one foot in height in winter and reach heights of severn feet by the following October.

Propagation and Transplanting
When propagating from seed, use a well-draining soil. When the seedlings reach three to four inches in height and have two sets of leaves, they can be transplanted into gallon-size pots. The seedlings should be fertilized with half-strength Miracle Gro. Once the seedlings reach a foot in height, they can be transplanted outside.

When transplanting container grown plants, dig a planting hole twice the width of the root ball and as deep as the soil in the container. Center the Confederate Rose in the planting hole and backfill with soil. Mulch with at least three inches of compost or pulverized bark and water well.

If you are transplanting a balled and burlaped plant, and the burlap is synthetic, remove the burlap and discard it. If the burlap is organic, you can leave it on the plant and it will decompose. Just remove the staples or ties holding the burlap onto the plant. Dig a planting hole as deep as the root ball and twice its size. Center the Confederate Rose bush in the planting hole and backfill with soil. Mulch with at least three inches of compost or pulverized bark and water well.

For bare-root plants, soak the roots in water for at least eight hours to ensure they are well-hydrated. Dig a planting hole as wide as the spread-out roots. Center the plant in the planting hole and spread out the roots at the bottom. Fill the planting hole with water, then backfill with soil and water well. Mulch with at least three inches of compost or pulverized bark.