— A couple of months ago we went for a visit at our favorite Austin nursery, Garden Seventeen. We were looking for some native plants to add to our front and back yards. After the 2021 February snowcalypse, a few plants had to be replaced. I love going to Garden Seventeen because of its friendly and knowledgeable staff. So, when we talked to one of the women there about a certain location by our front steps, she suggested we should plant Brazilian Rock Roses. Well, hearing “Brazilian” made me decide on the spot I wanted those roses even before seeing them. To those who don’t know me, I was born and raised in Brazil.
Brazilian Rock Roses are also known as South American Rock Roses. Their botanical name is actually Pavonia braziliensis, according to Texas Smart Scape. This perennial rose likes sunlight and partial shade. That is precisely the location we had in mind in our front yard. It gets some mid-morning sun, but it’s mostly shaded in the afternoon (a large tree blocks the sun in the afternoon). This rose does not need a lot of water, either. That makes it a perfect plant for Central Texas weather.
As you can see in the first and second photos (click to enlarge them), the blooms tend to be white or light pink with a deep crimson center. It almost looks like it’s bleeding. The rose petals have a texture similar to crumpled paper.
If you have seen a previous post I added here of a Halberd-Leaved Rose Mallow, you will notice some similarities between these two roses. According to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, these roses “are genera in the plant family Malvaceae.”
In the macro above, you can easily see the crimson center as well as the textured crumpled paper appearance.
Like common Morning Glory flowers, Brazilian Rock Roses open their petals in the morning and have them closed at the end of the day. These flowers are favorites among butterflies and hummingbirds, and that crimson center is a magnet for those pollinators.
The beauty you see in the open roses is also present when they are closed. The last two photos show you macros of closed Brazilian Rock Roses. The small crimson streaks add gorgeous detail to this beautiful rose. To my eyes, the bulb of the rose resembles a radish. Be sure to click to enlarge the small photos in order to see more details.
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