A: Hibiscus mutabilis, Confederate Rose is an old-fashioned perennial or shrub hibiscus. Flowers are double and are 4 to 6 inches in diameter; they open white or pink, and change to deep red by evening. Bloom season usually lasts from summer through fall. Propagation by cuttings root easiest in early spring, but cuttings can be taken at almost any time. When it does not freeze, the Confederate rose can reach heights of 12 to 15 feet with a woody trunk; however, a multi-trunk bush 6 to 8 feet tall is more typical. It responds best to minimal pruning. It was once a very common plant throughout the South but has fallen out of favor because of the common insect issues. Confederate rose is an interesting and attractive plant which grows in full sun or partial shade, and prefers rich, well-drained soil. The spots you see from whiteflies. Several beneficial insects such as ladybugs, green lacewings, and wasps feed on the white flies but it is important to allow the populations of beneficial insects to increase enough to manage the pests. This means staying away from broad spectrum pesticides like Sevin or Malathion and turning to insecticidal soap or ultrafine horticulture oil. Otherwise you can use either of the above products to manage the whitefly population as well as others listed on the attached publication from the University of Florida on whitefly chemical control on ornamental plants: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg254

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