Tree Mallow
Lavatera olbia
Grows fast and loose — cut it hard each spring, or the wind will do the job less kindly.
Light Full sun, all day.
Water Handles drought well; watering is rarely called for.
Height 2 m
Spread 4 ft 11 in
Spacing 150 cm
Spacing & sowing
- Plant spacing
- 4 ft 11 in
- In-row spacing
- 4 ft 11 in
- Between rows
- 6 ft 2 in
- Square-foot density
- Not suited to SFG
Growing
- Type
- Shrub · Perennial
- Botanical family
- Mixed / other
- Sunlight
- Full sun, all day.
- Watering
- Handles drought well; watering is rarely called for.
- Feeding
- Keep the feed away from it entirely.
- Frost tolerant
- Yes
- Flowering
- June
- Pruning
- Cut it back hard to 30 cm each April.
- Overwintering
- Hardy once grown, though young plants want cover in a severe frost.
Through the year
- Apr–Apr Bud Break
- Apr–Jun Spring Growth
- Jun–Oct Flowering
- Oct–Nov Growing
- Nov–Dec Leaf Fall
- Jan–Apr Leaf Fall
Pests & problems
The Cottage Garden Companion — the gardener's herbarium at cottagegardencompanion.com