The stems can grow tall and wide enough to become tree-like.
But the plant’s flowers are its real show-stopping feature.
They begin blooming in the summertime, starting off as a white or light pink color.
The Spruce / K. Dave
The blooms then last for several more days.
Fuzzy seed pods, whose cotton-like appearance gives the plant its common name, follow the flowers.
Cotton rose shrubs have a fast growth rate and should be planted in the spring.
The Spruce / K. Dave
Its even known to be deer-resistant.
Youll typically have to prune annually, though the shrub usually doesnt need extensive pruning.
And plan to water and fertilize during the growing season.
The Spruce / K. Dave
The shrub also can tolerate partial shade, though it might not flower as profusely.
Soil
This shrub can grow in most soils with good drainage.
But it does best in a loamy soil thats rich inorganic matter.
The Spruce / K. Dave
A neutral to slightly alkaline soil pH is ideal.
A good rule of thumb is to water when the top 2 inches of soil dry out.
Water minimally during the winterjust enough to prevent the soil from fully drying out.
venture to avoid getting the foliage wet when watering, as this can promote fungal growth.
Temperature and Humidity
This is not a cold-hardy shrub.
Frost will cause it to drop its leaves in the fall and enter dormancy.
Use a balanced fertilizer during the growing season, following label instructions.
Remove any damaged or diseased stems as they arise.
Usually only a light pruning is necessary to shape growth.
New shoots will quickly grow to fill in the space.
Propagating Cotton Rose
Cotton rose can be propagated by stem cuttings.
The best time to take cuttings is in the late winter to early spring.
Plant them about 1/4 inch deep, and keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
Also, note that container plants generally need more frequent watering than those grown in the ground.
Use a quality all-purpose potting mix with good drainage.
The container also should have drainage holes.
Unglazed clay is a good material to allow excess soil moisture to evaporate through its walls.
But you might want to consider using a grow bag because it will be lighter to move.
Its best to do this in the spring.
Choose a container size up, and add fresh soil around the root ball.
But the shrub still should produce fresh growth in the spring.
Plan to prune off the stems that have died back in the late winter to early spring.
If you do it earlier as part of your garden’s overwintering maintenance, this can damage the shrub.
This will help to prevent the container soil from getting too cold and damaging the plant’s roots.
Infestations often can be treated with insecticidal soaps or even a strong spray of water.
Common diseases include leaf spot, southern stem blight, and powdery mildew.
Remove any stems with signs of fungal growth.
They stretch around 3 to 6 inches across.
Blooming typically begins in the late summer and stretches into fall.
The flowers won’t provide fragrance for your garden, but they will attract many beneficial pollinators.
However, this plant will typically bloom profusely on its own as well.
Just confirm it has sufficient sunlight, moisture, and organic matter in the soil to support flowering.
However, an inadequate environment can lead to some common issues.
Leaves Turning Yellow
Yellowing leaves can often be a sign of overwatering or underwatering.
check that the soil is never waterlogged.
But on the flip side, plan to water a little extra in hot weather.
This isnt cause for concern, as it will regrow come spring.
However, leaf drop during the growing season can be a sign of inadequate watering or disease.
While they share a common name, cotton roses are actually members of theHibiscusgenus while roses are of theRosagenus.
However, both plants showy blooms do somewhat resemble each other.
It also can be grown as a shrub border.
It is not ideal to attempt to grow cotton rose shrubs indoors.
They require direct sunlight to grow and bloom at their best.
And they generally become too large to be a houseplant.
