Mallows

Lavatera ( Tree Mallow )

Lavatera assurgentiflora ( Island Tree Mallow )
A very fast growing, upright, multi-stemmed, evergreen shrub, reaching up to 12 x 10 feet in size, that is native to the Channel Islands in California though sometimes escaped elsewhere in the state. It is best planted at the back of the border to hide its legginess.
The 5 or 7 lobed, maple-shaped leaves, up to 6 x 6 inches in size, are bright green above, pale beneath.
The abundant, lavender or rose ( with deep purple veining ) flowers are up to 3 inches wide.
Hardy zones 9 to 11 ( tolerating 18 F ) in full sun on just about any well drained soil including pure sand and clay. It is tolerant of salt, soil alkalinity and severe drought. It thrives best where average annual rainfall is 9 to 18 inches.

Lavatera olbia
An upright, bushy shrub, reaching up to 4 feet, that is native to Portugal, Spain and Italy.
The rounded, 3 or 5 lobed leaves are rich green.
The purplish-pink flowers, up to 3 inches across, are borne in masses, mid-summer to late autumn.
Hardy zones 7 to 9. Lavateras are best planted outdoors during spring after any chance of frost has passed in order to have a long time to establish before the next winter. Where frost occurs, a winter mulch is recommended to prevent frost heaving. Propagation is from seed collected upon ripening and turning black. They are then placed in an envelope and stored in a dark, cool, dry place such as a garage where they wont freeze. Lavateras prefer hot summers and may suffer fungal wilt where summers are cool. They can be sown indoors in early spring in a sunny window or outdoors once there is no more chance of any frost.

Lavatera thuringiaca
A fast growing, perennial, reaching up to 6.5 feet in height, that is native to temperate Eurasia ( from Germany to Russia; south to Italy to Turkey to northwest Iran to northwest China ).
The palmate leaves are 3 to 5 lobed. The foliage is grayish-green.
The flowers are up to 4 inches wide.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 ( protected site with deep winter mulch in 5 ).

'Barnsley'
A vigorous, woody-based perennial, reaching a maximum height of 10 x 8 feet, bearing white ( with red center ) flowers, up to 2 inches across, from early summer to mid-autumn.
The gray-green, palmately-lobed leaves are up to 5 inches in length.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( protected site with deep winter mulch in 5 ) in full sun on just about any well drained soil. Cut back hard to a height of 6 inches, during early spring. Propagation is easily done from cuttings.

'Burgundy Wine'
A perennial, reaching a maximum height of 5 feet, with deep red flowers borne all summer long.
The foliage is gray-green.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( protected site with deep winter mulch in 5 ) in full sun on just about any well drained soil.

'Kew Rose'
A perennial, reaching a maximum height of 13 ( rarely over 10 ) feet, with purple stems bearing deep pink flowers.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( protected site with deep winter mulch in 5 ) in full sun on just about any well drained soil.

'Sense'
A vigorous, compact perennial, reaching a maximum size of 3.5 feet.
The flowers are pink.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( protected site with deep winter mulch in 5 ) in full sun on just about any well drained soil.

Malva ( Rose Mallows )

Malva alcea 'Fastigiata' ( Hollyhock Mallow )
An upright form of a very vigorous common perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 4 feet, that is native to southern Europe. Older clumps can produce as many as 40 stalks.
The toothed, deeply-lobed, Maple-like leaves, up to 6 inches across, are bright green.
The abundant, rosy-pink, bowl-shaped flowers, up to 3 inches across, are borne on up to 40 upright stalks from early summer until autumn frosts.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun to partial shade.
Heat and drought tolerant, it is very easy to grow. Cut back to the basal leaves after flowering. It is rarely bothered by pests or disease.
Propagation is from seed or stem cuttings.

Malva moschata ( Musk Mallow )
A long-lived, fast spreading to invasive, upright, rounded bushy perennial, reaching a maximum size of 3.5 x 4.5 + feet, that is native to Europe. It has also naturalized in the Pacific Northwest and northeastern North America as far nort as Sault Ste Marie, Tobermory and Haliburton, Ontario. It makes a good container plant if not overwatered.
The deeply-cut 5 to 9 lobed leaves, up to 4 x 4 inches in size, are mid-green.
The musky-scented, pink ( less often lavender ), bowl-shaped flowers, up to 2.3 inches across, are borne all summer long, sometimes persisting into early autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 6 in full sun to partial shade on just about any well drained soil. Cut back after first flush of blooms to encourage rebloom. It is rarely bothered by pests or disease. Propagation is from seed or stem cuttings.
Cut back during late summer as they can sometimes spend excessive energy on seed production leading to death of the plant.

* photos taken on Jul 18 2017 @ Dominion Arboretum, Ottawa, ON

'Alba'
White flowers, otherwise identical.

* photos taken on Aug 1 2013 in Stratford, Ontario

* photos taken on July 14 2016 in Tobermory, Ontario

* photo taken on Jul 18 2017 @ Dominion Arboretum, Ottawa, ON

* photos taken on July 12 2019 @ Greenfield Village, Dearborn, MI

'Rosea'
Pink flowers.

Malva sylvestris ( High Mallow )
A perennial that is native to Europe but has naturalized over much of southern Canada and the United States.
The deeply-lobed, rounded leaves are mid-green.
The flowers are usually deep pink to violet.
Hardy zones 3 to 8, it is known to survive as far north as Edmonton, Alberta.

* photo of unknown internet source

* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

'Brave'
A perennial, reaching up to 5 feet in height.
It bears rosy-pink ( with purple veins ) flowers, up to 2 inches wide, from early summer to fall frosts.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun on just about any well drained soil. It is both tolerant of drought and hot humid summers.

var. mauritaniana
An impressive, upright perennial, reaching up to 4 x 2.5 feet, that is native to northern Africa.
The large, intense red-purple, single, hollyhock-like flowers, up to 1 inch across, are borne mid summer into late autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 ( tolerating as low as -40 F ) in full sun to partial shade on just about any well drained soil.
Cut back during late summer as they can sometimes spend excessive energy on seed production leading to death of the plant and in fact it sometimes does grow as an annual or biennial.

* photos taken on July 14 2013 in Harford Co., MD

Malva sylvestris 'Zebrina'
Reaching up to 5 ( rarely over 3 ) feet in height, its sturdy upright stems bears bright pink ( boldly-veined deep red ) flowers from mid-summer until autumn frost. Malva sylvestris is native to most of Europe.
The 3 to 7 lobed, palmate foliage resembling that of Maples is glossy mid-green.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in full sun on just about any moist, fertile, well drained soil.

* photos of unkwown internet source

* photo taken by Jean Pawek @ CalPhotos

Sphaeralcea

Sphaeralcea ambigua ( Desert Mallow )
A fast growing, bushy perennial, reaching up to 4 x 3 feet in size, that is native to the southwestern U.S. ( from central California to northern Nevada to central Utah; south into Mexico ).
The rounded leaves, up to 2.5 inches in length, are gray-green.
The flowers are bright orange, salmon or orange-red. They attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Hardy zones 4 to 10 in full sun on well drained soil. Cut back the flower spikes after blooming to encourage new growth.

'Louis Hamilton'
Intense deep red flowers.

Sphaeralcea coccinea ( Scarlet Mallow )
Also called Malvastrum coccineum. A shrubby perennial, reaching up to 1.8 x 1.5 feet, that is native to dry prairie in central North America ( from eastern British Columbia to Edmonton, Alberta to southern Saskatchewan to Manitoba; south to northeast Nevada to central Arizona to central Texas ). It is stunning mass planted as groundcover.
The toothed, deeply palmately-lobed, rounded leaves, up to 2 inches wide, are gray-green.
The intense orange-red flowers, up to 1.5 inches wide, are borne on short racemes during summer.
The stems are grayish-white felted.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 in full sun on sandy or gravelly, very well drained soil. It is very drought tolerant.

* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Sphaeralcea munroana ( Munro Globe Mallow )
A fast growing, upright, perennial, reaching a maximum size of 3.5 x 3 feet, that is native to the western U.S. ( from British Columbia to western Montana to central Wyoming; south to central Nevada to northern Colorado ).
The deeply-toothed and 5-lobed leaves are hairy and gray-green.
The scarlet-red, saucer-shaped flowers are borne over a long season during mid-summer.
The stems are gray.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun on just about any fertile, well drained soil. Very drought tolerant due to its deep taproot. Clay tolerant.
Cut back to near ground during early spring. Deer resistant.