Another confusing name!

Oh, this language of ours! Sometimes things can be so confusing to others. And sometimes these same things make perfect sense to me! (Maybe it is not the language that is confusing.) Here we go again..this time the moniker that seems to throw everyone is "Confederate Rose". Now to those that live in the South, a Confederate Rose is a part of life..it is like Magnolias, Spanish Moss, sweet tea and "ya'll". These things all connote a life down South..way down South..Deep South..down "smack against the Gulf" South! Almost every yard south of the Mason/Dixon Line has at least one Confederate Rose bush proudly waving its bloom in the Gulf breezes. This bush has a beautiful habit of having more than one color blossom on each bush..no, that is not something "special", it is just part of the appeal of the bush. The buds usually open early in the morning as white or near white only to gradually turn to a dark rosy pink by the evening. Most garden centers use this trait as a huge selling ploy, touting it as something highly unusual but to the Confederate Rose, it is quite natural. A tale explaining this change comes from the Civil War era..whether it is true or not..is entirely left to the teller of the tale. It seems that a Confederate soldier was fatally wounded during one horrendous battle and left where he fell beneath a bush that was covered with white flowers. As his blood spilled onto the roots of the bush, the blooms in sadness turned blood red by evening. Such a sad tale to be attached to such a lovely bush. Now here is the confusing part..this bush is neither a rose nor is it Confederate! It is not even indigenous to the South! This plant is actually in the hibiscus family and hails from China! Whoa! That is a far cry from being what one would naturally think considering the name! It seems to have taken a liking to the Southland and does really well here. Since the branches will die back with the first freeze, many people will start to take cuttings in late Fall. These cuttings (about twelve inches long) can be placed in a bucket of water and should be well rooted by Spring. The bucket will have to be placed out of the harm of freezing weather and the water level checked occasionally. This weekend, I will be taking cuttings from mine. I need several more bushes! This one actually survived Hurricane Katrina..not intact but months after the storm, I found that a piece had self-rooted in the marsh near the Bayou. That should be a testimony to the hardiness of this bush! In Spring, I hope to have several more for the yard and some to share with any who would like one.