Blooms with changing colours a big draw

Tandur: The wonders of nature are endless! Here is a plant, scientifically known as Hibiscus mutabilis, which produces flowers that change in colours through the day. Hibiscus mutabilis is also known as the Confederate rose, Dixie rosemallow or the cotton rosemallow.

Noted for its flowers, confederate roses tend to be shrubby, treelike or perennial. Flowers can be double or single and are four to six inches in diameter; they open white or pink, and change to deep red by evening. The 'Rubra' variety has red flowers. Single blooming flowers are generally cup-shaped. Bloom season usually lasts from summer through fall.

Agamayya of Shanti Nagar, who works in the Forest Department, had planted a sapling without knowing its specialty last year. Going by the plant’s leaves, everyone thought it could be cotton plant. The plant, which started flowering last month, has been drawing crowds as its flowers sport differing colours during different times of the day. The colour-changing bloom is now the talk of the town.

By G Ashok Kumar