Asian Garden: Rosa x odorata 'Mutabilis'

[Justin Moore]

UBC Accession #30786-558-1994*
Photos by Justin Moore
June 25, 2002

In the first photograph, the geranium is Geranium psilostemon 'Iwan', UBC Accession #35062-0613-1999

Rosa × odorata 'Mutabilis' interpretative sign

[Karen Shuster]

Is this synonymous w. rosa chinensis mutabilis? The image doesn't present the various colour forms which normally appear simultaneously.

[Daniel Mosquin]

Yes, it is. Rosa × odorata 'Mutabilis' is the current recognized name for this rose according to the Royal Horticultural Society Plant Finder. This is UBC Botanical Garden's standard reference for most cultivars of plants. The Plant Finder does note that it is a member of the Chinensis Group.

The second photograph does omit the typical accompanying peach-pink blossoms, but there is one on the left hand side of the left image. Next year (as it is seemingly prolific every year), we'll try to obtain an image that more accurately reflects the variation.

Thanks for pointing that out - it is certainly a plant deserving of attention. I have heard a plant with flowers being metaphorically described as a mass of butterflies, which it most certainly resembles.