Lavatera maritima

Lavatera maritima Details

Lavatera maritima, commonly known as Tree Mallow or Bicolor Tree Mallow, is a vigorous shrub grown for its beautiful flowers. It bears masses of large and showy, lilac-coloured flowers with purple veins through summer and autumn. The foliage is green-grey, has a soft looking appearance, and serves as a pleasant backdrop to the flowers. It can be cut back hard every winter and will regrow to about 1.5 m tall and the same wide. Best performance with this plant is achieved when it is grown in full sun or part shade on a well-drained site. Harsh frosts will cause it to die back but otherwise it will remain evergreen. Lavatera maritima is commonly included in mixed plantings, maintained in a container, or added to cottage gardens.