Lavatera

( lav - at - TEER - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly referred to as Tree Mallow and under the alternative genus Malva, this genus of annuals and evergreen shrubs needs full sun and regular water. The bright flowers will attract butterflies to your garden. They are easy to grow and bear profuse blooms of hollyhock-like flowers in summertime. 

Lavatera Species and Varietals

The genus Lavatera is a member of the plant family Malvaceae. Tree Mallow growing zones vary depending on the species; for more information see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Lavatera assurgentiflora
This shrub is evergreen and grows best in zones 14-24, native to the Channel Islands in Southern California. Grows to 12 feet tall and wide, with maple-like leaves. Flowers are rose-lavender and striped with white and bloom in midspring to late summertime, though blooms can pop throughout the year. Great for a windbreak hedge. Shear to keep it dense; it needs little to moderate amounts of water.
Lavatera x clemantii
This evergreen species grows best in zones 2-9 and 14-24 and has many varieties, listed below.
'Barnsley'
6-8 feet tall and 6 feet wide, with rose-centered flowers that open white and fade to pink. 'Barnsley Baby' is similar in characteristics, but reaches just 32 inches in height.
'Blushing Bride'
5 feet tall and wide, with white flowers.
'Bredon Springs'
6 feet tall and just as wide, with rose-pink flowers and soft greyish green foliage.
'Burgundy Wine'
4-5 feet tall and just as wide, with reddish pink flowers. 
'Kew Rose'
Large mauve-pink flowers on a plant with an open growing habit that reaches 12 feet tall.
'Rosea'
This variety reaches 6 feet tall and wide and has pink blooms.

​Lavatera maratima (Lavatera bicolor)
This species of Tree Mallow is evergreen and is native to the western Mediterranean region. It does best in zones 6-9 and 12-24, growing quickly to 6-8 feet tall and just as wide. Maple-like leaves are grey-green and flowers are light pink with a purple center and dark rose veining. Open growth habit but can be pruned back hard to keep a more compact habit. Needs partial to full shade in zones 12 and 13.

​Lavatera thuringiaca
This evergreen shrub grows in zones 2-9 and 14-24 (need winter protection in zones 2 and 3), and is native to southeastern and central Europe. Flowers are purple-pink and bloom almost year-round. Variety 'Red Rum' reaches 4-5 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide with deep pink flowers that bloom on burgundy stems.

Lavatera trimestris (Annual Mallow)
This species grows in all zones and is native to the Mediterranean region. It reaches 3-6 feet tall and wide from seeds sown in springtime. Flowers are satiny and about four inches across. The species is seldom seen in gardens, but varieties are widely grown with flowers in white, pink, and carmine. Great as a fast-growing summer hedge.

Caring for and pruning lavatera shrubs

Plant Lavatera shrubs in full location in well-draining soil (these shrubs are not particular about pH) and water regularly while it is getting established. Once these plants have matured, they are drought tolerant (they will only need waterings during prolonged periods of dry weather) and are considered to be easy-care shrubs. Prune in late winter or early springtime before new growth begins for the year. These plants don't require fertilizing, but if the plant is truly struggling it may benefit from an application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied in springtime to support new growth and flowering.

Propagation

Lavatera can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Lavatera by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Lavatera by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed pods are round and hold snail-shell-shaped seeds. Once they have dried out and begun to fall out of the seed pod, cut them off the plant and place them in a paper bag. The seeds will continue to be released, and after a few days you'll have enough to plant.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 14-21 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Lavatera seeds are contained inside of seed pods.
Lavatera seeds.

Problems and Pests

Lavatera shrubs are generally pest and disease free, but can have some issues with the following:
  • Aphids
  • Spider Mites
  • Whiteflies
For more information on these issues, see the following links:
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Gallery

The flowers on these shrubs look similar to Hibiscus.
These shrubs are great for informal or cottage-style gardens.
Lavatera shrubs are grown for their beautiful, usually pink flowers.

Videos

All about Tree Mallow.
How to prune Lavatera shrubs.
How to grow Lavatera for its cut flowers.
All about growing Lavatera successfully.

Resources

Lavatera Plant Info - How to Grow Lavatera Rose Mallow Plants
How to Grow and Care for Lavatera
Wikipedia: Malva
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 404, Lavatera (Tree Mallow)
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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