How to Grow Lavatera - Tree Mallow

Tree mallow, Lavatera, is a shrub-like semi-green perennial with rounded. Showy, five-petaled saucer- or funnel-shaped flowers resemble small hibiscus and come in shades of pink and white.

Lavatera is a genus of 25 species–usually tall, branching fast-growing herbaceous annuals and several shrubby perennials. Annual tree mallow is colorful with mallow-like flowers and lobed, gray-green felted leaves.

Lavatera is easily grown in any average garden soil. it is well suited for dry, rocky soils. Perennial lavatera is best suited for Mediterranean conditions. Annuals raised from seed, lavatera will bloom by late summer.

Table of Contents

Get to know Lavatera

Plant type: perennial, sometimes grown as an annual
Growing Zones and range: 2-11
Hardiness: Half-hardy
Height and width: 24 inches (60cm) to 4 feet 1.2m) tall; 12 to 24 inches (30-60cm) wide
Foliage: Medium to dark green leaves shaped like maple leaves
Flowers: Satiny saucer-like blooms similar to hibiscus flowers
Flower colors: White, pale pink, lilac and red
Bloom time: Early summer to frost
Uses: Vertical accent, cut flowers
Common name: Tree mallow, annual mallow
Botanical name: Lavatera species
Family: Malvaceae
Origin: The Mediterranean to Central Asia, Australia and California

Where to plant Lavatera

Grow Lavatera in full sun.
Plant Lavatera in humus-rich, well-drained soil. Soil too rich will yield abundant foliage but few flowers.
Lavatera prefers a soil pH of 6.5.

Lavatera uses

Set Lavatera at the back of a summer border.
Lavatera can be planted as a fast-growing hedge or screen.

Tree mallow, Lavatera malvaceae — Tree mallow, *Lavatera thuringiaca*

When to plant Lavatera

Set Lavatera in the garden in spring after all danger of frost has passed.
Start seed indoors 4 to 5 weeks before the last frost for setting out in the garden after the last frost.
Sow seed outdoors after the last frost.

Planting and spacing Lavatera

Start seed indoors in flats or individual pots; sow seed 1/8 inch deep in seed starting mix or light potting soil. Start seed indoors under warm fluorescent lights.
Sow seed outdoors in evenly prepared soil.
Space Lavatera 2 to 4 feet apart depending on the variety.

How to water and feed Lavatera

Lavatera needs moderate moisture. Keep the soil just moist.
Fertilize Lavatera with a liquid all-purpose fertilizer every 4 weeks.

Lavatera care

Mulch around annual tree mallow to conserve soil moisture.
Stake taller plants so they do not flop over.
Trim spent blooms to prolong flowering.
Perennial lavatera: shorten excessive growth in autumn and prune hard in spring.
Wash aphids off of foliage or flowers if they appear in spring or summer.

Lavatera propagation

Take softwood cuttings in late spring or summer.
Sow the seed of annual lavatera in spring.
Seeds germinate in 14 to 21 days.

Lavatera varieties to grow

Lavatera maritima, tree mallow: Evergreen shrub to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide; gray-green lobed leaves; pale pink flowers 2 to 3 inches across with notched petals; veins at the base of each petal is magenta.
L. thuringiaca, tree mallow, tree lavatera: Shrubby perennial grows 5 to 6 feet tall and wide; funnel-shaped 2 inch wide flowers singly or in loose clusters; ‘Barnsley’ produces 3-inch wide pink flowers.
L. trimestris, lavatera, tree mallow: Annual grows 2 to 4 feet tall; well-branched; bears funnel-shaped 3 to 4 inch wide flowers; cultivars include ‘Mont Blanc’ is white and grows to 2 feet tall, and ‘Loveliness’ is deep pink and grows to 4 feet tall.