Sturt's Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum), also known as Darling River Rose, Cotton Rosebush and Australian Cotton, is a woody, compact shrub that grows between 1-2 metres in height and has a life span of up to 10 years. Rather than a member of the rose family, it actually belongs to cotton family. It was proclaimed the state emblem flower of the Northern Territory in 1961 and a stylized version of the flower adorns the state flag.
Sturt's Desert Rose is a prolific bloomer, having flowers for most of the year, and peaking in late winter. The flowers have five petals of about 5cm in length and up to 12 cm in diameter. The ovate to triangular petals are arranged in a whorl and are mauve in colour with red bases forming a contrasting red centre. They do not have a perfume.The leaves of the plant itself are a lush dark green and usually oval in shape. The flowers close soon after cutting, so they are not suitable for cut flower arrangements.
It is extremely drought tolerant and grows well in areas with low rainfall. It has a deep root system for accessing lower levels of water, and has minimal transpiration, so retains water very well.
