Mutabilis
Earth Kind is an important designation given to select roses by
the Texas A&M University Agriculture program. Earth Kind Roses
have been through rigorous statewide testing and evaluation by
a team of horticultural experts and found to possess the high
level of landscape performance and utstanding disease and insect
tolerance/resistance required to for this special designation.
Earth Kind
Roses are among the most thoroughly tested and environmentally
responsible plants for the use in Texas landscapes. These roses
do very well in almost any soil type, from the well-drained
acid sands of East Texas to the poorly aerated, highly alkaline
clays of central and Southwest Texas. Earth Kind roses are certainly
not immune to pest problems. However, their tolerance to pests
is so great that they rarely require the use of chemical pesticides.
The origins
of Mutabilis pre-date 1896. This selection was first introduced
in 1934 by Swiss botanist Henri Correvon. He received the original
plant from an Italian Prince by the name of Ghilberto Borromeo.
It is still unclear if the plant originated in China or if it
was a hybrid from the prince’s garden in Isola Bella. For
many years this cultivar was sold under the name of ‘Tipo
Ideale’. Mutabilis is also commonly referred to as the
Butterfly Rose
Cultivar
Name: Mutabilis
Blossom Color: Yellow/Pink/Orange/Red
Blossom & Fragrance: Single - Some
Blooming Period: April - November
Mature Height: 4 - 10 feet
Mature Width: 6 feet
Rose Category: China
Growth Habit: Large Shrub
Landscape
Uses:
The flowering characteristics of Mutabilis are what make it
uniquely attractive. The 3”, silky blooms open pale yellow
in color and slowly change to shades of pink and eventually
crimson. When a plant is in full bloom with these multi-colored
flowers it appears to be covered with butterflies.
Mutabilis
is an extremely versatile and vigorous rose cultivar. This selection
can tolerate partial shade and thrives in poor soil although
foliage may turn yellowish under alkaline conditions. Plants
make an excellent hedge or mass planting. In mild climates and
protected locations Mutabilis can reach 10 plus feet in height.
This cultivar needs ample room to provide maximum landscape
performance.
The Earth
Kind designation also ensures that Mutabilis is extremely resource
efficient with outstanding landscape performance characteristics.
 Join
the Earth Kind Rose Brigade:
We invite you to become a member of the “Earth Kind Rose
Brigade,” a group of dedicated amateurs helping to conduct
advanced field testing of experimental rose selections. Your
participation will be educational as well as valuable in providing
information to the Earth Kind Team of Extension specialists
and research scientists at Texas A&M University.
To
participate, simply purchase and plant one or more of the Brigade
roses then, at one, two, three, and four years after transplanting,
provide the benefit of your growing experience.
These
cultivars should be planted where they will receive at least
8 hours of direct sun each day with good air movement over the
foliage. The use of compost and organic mulches is encouraged.
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