Perennial Tree Mallow
Lavatera arborea. MALVACEAE.
Planting and Growing Perennial Tree Mallow
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow tree mallow in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of tree mallow
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for tree mallow
- Season of bloom and planting time for tree mallow
- When, how deep, and where to plant tree mallow
- How to plant tree mallow
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of tree mallow
- Landscape and container uses of tree mallow
- Comments about tree mallow and its features
Growing Perennial Tree Mallow
Several cultivars of upright, treelike, deciduous biennial shrubs, 3–10 ft. (90–305 cm) tall, 6 ft. (1.8 m) wide. Soft-textured, green, round, 5-, 7-, or 9-lobed leaves, 3–9 in. (75–230 mm) in diameter, on hairy, gray stems.
Malva rose, Lavatera assurgentiflora, and Seaside Tree Mallow, Lavatera maritima, are closely related, shrublike species with similar care needs.
See also Annual Tree Mallow, Lavatera trimestris.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Showy, pink, purple, hollyhock-like, cup-shaped, 5-petaled flowers, to 3 in. (75 mm) wide, as single blossoms or loose clusters, in summer.
Best Climates
Hardy. Zones 6–9.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained, sandy soil. Fertility: Average. 6.5–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full sun, 3–6 ft. (90–180 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist until established; allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Drought tolerant. Fertilize annually in spring. Mulch. Deadhead spent flowers to promote new buds. Propagate by seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for accents, hedges, screens in cottage, meadow, natural gardens. Pest and disease resistant.