Plant types

Plant styles

Planting conditions

Seasonal interest

Nurseries & Gardens

Photo by Eric Timewell

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

Show all photos

Rosa x odorata 'Mutabilis'

Also Known As

Rosa chinensis
Rosa chinensis 'mutabilis'
Rosa chinensis 'Mutabulis'
Rosa chinensis var. mutabilis
Rosa mutabilis
Rosa turkestanica
Rosa x odorata
Butterfly Rose
Mutabilis Twelve Month Rose
The Butterfly Rose

Plant type

shrub

size

H: 4'-8'
W: 3'-7'

planting zones

7b-10b

More Options

Rosa x odorata 'Mutabilis' plant details

Rosa x odorata 'Mutabilis' is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with blue and green foliage. In fall, spring and summer pink and yellow flowers emerge followed by red fruit. Attracts bees and butterflies making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - dappled shade and regular water. Does well in acidic, average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and humidity tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Rosa x odorata 'Mutabilis'

Plant type: shrub
Plant family: rosaceae
Foliage: evergreen blue and green
Mature size: 3 FT - 7 FT - wide, 4 FT - 8 FT - tall
Flowers: pink and yellow blooms in fall, spring and summer
Uses: border plant, container plant, cutting garden, fragrant, mass-planting, repeat-blooming

GROWING CONDITIONS for Rosa x odorata 'Mutabilis'

USDA Zones: 7b - 10b
Sun exposure: sun - dappled shade
Watering frequency: regular
Resistant to: heat and humidity
Soil needs: acidic, average, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

The delicate single flowers of Rosa chinensis 'Mutabilis' look like butterflies perched amongst the red-tinged leaves and airy stems. Vermilion buds open to deep pink flowers which age to light pink, apricot and finally creamy yellow. On an established plant all of these colours will be present at once creating an ever-changing palette of beautiful colour. Will rebloom throughout the season. By far Gary’s favourite rose. Plant in a sheltered location out of wind. Tolerant of shade. Impervious to disease.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

An excellent garden plant, this 6-8' shrub offers not only coppery-plum new growth but also fragrant 2-3" flowers (June-Oct!) which open from flame-bright buds to soft-yellow flowers to pink and finally to crimson! S/M

By: Forestfarm

An antique, shrubby China Rose that was introduced to this country in 1934 that can reach 6-8'; cupped, single flowers that evolve in color starting burnished gold, to copper-pink, deep rose and finally a chocolate color providing a season long, multi-col

By: Secret Garden Growers

Bushy in growth with slender arching stems, growing 3-8' tall, this fine shrub exhibits purple or coppery-tinged leaflets when young and single fragrant flowers. Blossoms are 2-3" across and shaped like a shallow cup. Flowers open in yellow with an orange back, then move through a spectrum of coppery salmon-pink and are a warm pink when the petals finally drop. All color phases are present at one time. Tolerant of many soil types, but does need full sun. Hardy to 0F. Western China.

By: Native Sons

Butterfly Rose is an old fashioned garden staple. Single blossoms start yellow, fade to pink, then mauve. Flowers all summer, foliage stays clean all summer.

By: Specialty Ornamentals

A wonderful rose, known in China as the four season rose. Long flowering, the single flowers emerging pale peach and aging to nearly cerise before shattering. Foliage is blue green, burgundy blushed in new growth as are the stems. To 4-6' tall x 3' wide. Nearly evergreen and nearly everblooming and well as nearly completely disease resistant. Dappled shade to bright light with summer water for best performance. Frost hardy in upper USDA zone 7.