One of the most charming of all old China roses with masses of single flowers which open pale apricot before becoming pink and then red, in loose, branched, red-twigged heads, and produced throughout the warm weather until Christmas or the first serious frost . It forms a robust bush to 6 feet (2m) or more if grown on a warm wall, so it can form strong woody shoots; there is a plant growing on Kiftsgate House UK that has shot up to about 24 feet (7m). Of unknown origin, but probably an old Chinese garden rose, and seen recently in China by Mikinori Ogisu.
According to Graham Thomas it is first recorded in Italy in 1894 when Prince Giberto Borromeo took a specimen to an exposition in Geneva, and it was seen by Henri Correvon; it was growing in the Borromeo garden on Isola Madre in Lago di Maggiore, where it formed a hedge around 2m high. It is said to have come to Italy from the island of Réunion; it was named 'mutabilis' by Correvon in 1934. Further discussion of its history can be found in : The Unsolved 'Mutabilis' Mystery by Helene Pizzi, RNRS Historic Roses group Journal no. 16, Autumn 1998.

The field shot was photographed at Mottisfont Garden Hampshire UK.