Definition

1. Noun:
   • Any plant of the genus Filago: A plant characterized by having dense, woolly, capitate (head-like) clusters of small flowers.
   • Chinese shrub or small tree (Hibiscus mutabilis): A deciduous shrub known for its flowers that change color, often opening white or pink in the morning and deepening to red by evening. It is widely cultivated and has become naturalized in some regions, such as the southeastern United States.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The field was dotted with the soft, grayish heads of the cotton rose (Filago).
  • The cotton rose (Hibiscus mutabilis) in the garden is remarkable; its blossoms are white at dawn and crimson by dusk.

Advanced Usage

• Horticultural Context: The term is used in gardening and botanical texts to specify either the woolly species or the color-changing . Context is crucial for clarity.
  • For a cottage garden, the ethereal quality of the cotton rose (Filago) adds texture.
  • The cotton rose is prized in Southern gardens for its dramatic diurnal color shift.

Variants and Related Words

• Confederate Rose: A common name for .
• Woollyheads: A descriptive name for plants in the genus .
• Hibiscus: The broader genus to which belongs.

Synonyms

• For : Cudweed, Filago.
• For : Confederate rose, Dixie rosemallow.

Related Phrases

• Cotton rose mallow: An alternative name that emphasizes its relation to the mallow family (Malvaceae).
  • The cotton rose mallow can be propagated easily from cuttings.

Related Idioms

Noun

1. any plant of the genus Filago having capitate clusters of small woolly flower heads
2. Chinese shrub or small tree having white or pink flowers becoming deep red at night; widely cultivated; naturalized in southeastern United States