The mauve petals are about 5 cm long with red bases forming a contrasting centre in each flower. Flowering is not strictly seasonal but reaches a peak in late winter. The fruit, a capsule, is about 1 cm long and contains many small seeds covered with short silky hairs. Sturt's Desert Rose occurs naturally on stony or rocky slopes, or in dry creek beds in the southern part of the Northern Territory, north-eastern South Australia, western Queensiand, western New South Wales and in parts of northern Western Australia. This drought-tolerant shrub can be cultivated successfully in areas of low to moderate rainfall.
Propagation is possible from seeds and cuttings.
An advantage with the latter method is that it provides an opportunity to establish superior forms of the shrub in cultivation. Sturt's Desert Rose tolerates light frosts and in cultivation it responds well to supplementary watering and moderate pruning. Pleasing results are obtained when it is grown as a specimen plant in lawn. Like most members of the hibiscus family, the flowers close soon after picking, limiting its suitability as a cut flower. Manipulated hybrids between Sturt's Desert Rose and other Australian species of Gossypium bear larger mauve flowers more profusely than either parent.