Rosa x chinensis 'Mutabilis' - China Rose

Rosa chinensis 'Mutabilis' is unforgettable for those who have seen it bloom, then re-bloom, in successive waves, repeating its paniculate light and multicoloured flowers late into the season. It owes its name 'Mutabilis' to the changing colours of its flowers, which open as yellowish chamois wildflowers, turn pink and then become tinged with crimson to coppery purple before fading. This remarkable bush is an ancient hybrid, forming a large and sturdy bush with an airy habit and light foliage, which can reach the size of a small climber in sheltered locations or the south of our country. Like all direct descendants of R. chinensis, it requires protection against heavy frost in cold climates.

The Rosa x chinensis 'Mutabilis' was named as such when it was commercialised in 1934 by the Swiss horticulturist Henry Correvon, to whom it had been given 40 years earlier by a Milanese friend who was a rose enthusiast and grew it in his garden, where it developed without a name. It is possible that this rose is identical to the variety 'Tipo Ideale'. This old hybrid of unknown origin has been cultivated in Europe since 1896 but is also found in China.

It is a slightly thorny bush with a wide and rounded habit that easily reaches 2m (7ft) in height and 1.3m (4ft) in width, with rapid growth. Depending on the climate, its foliage, evergreen to semi-evergreen, is a rather dark and satin-like green, with young shoots being bronze-purple, as are the young branches. The flowering is almost continuous, remarkably abundant in April-May, repeating in successive waves thanks to the rains. In mild climates, this rose still bears flowers at Christmas. It is covered with single, 5-petaled flowers, 6cm (2in) wide, a bit tousled, whose colour changes throughout the day. The very pointed bud, orange to red, opens up into a yellowish chamois cup with orange reverse, then the next day it turns into a coppery salmon pink and then fades a bit, finally turning into a dark pink. This succession of colours creates a delightful range of yellow, orange, and pink on the same bush. This variety, not demanding in terms of soil, grows very well on its own roots.

If the passion for botanical roses and their direct hybrids is not widespread, it is fully justified, especially in difficult soils or under challenging climates: these roses are not only the parents of our modern roses but also generally more robust and reliable. The 'Mutabilis' rose is fantastic and whimsical but little known among amateur gardeners. While its hardiness is sometimes lacking in cooler climates (-12°C/-15°C (5°F)), it deserves to be planted in the majority of gardens even by the seaside, by choosing a slightly sheltered location. It can be planted in a romantic bed or a wild hedge alongside Rosa complicata, the Hansa rose, Rosa rubiginosa (the sweetbriar rose), or Rosa rubrifolia with purple leaves. It can be used as a standalone plant, in a shrub bed, or in a free hedge in areas where summers are dry. Trained against a wall, like a climbing rose, it can reach 6m (20ft). Finally, it is a very healthy and low-maintenance bush, resistant to drought once well established.