Sphaeralcea Charmeuse

Sphaeralcea 'Charmeuse' is a variety of desert mallow that is characterized by its pale salmon-pink flowering. It is part of a group of not very well-known plants which are nevertheless remarkably floriferous and highly drought-resistant. It is a semi-woody perennial ideal for slightly arid areas. In the span of 3 to 4 years, this cousin of mallows and lavateras forms a large clump of delicately leafed stems that bloom for months. An adult plant can tolerate brief freezes of around -12 °C (10.4°F) in dry soil.

The Sphaeralcea genus includes about fifty annual, perennial or semi-shrubby species, native to temperate, warm to tropical, and semi-arid regions of the Americas. They are plants of the mallow family, closely related to hollyhocks and lavateras. Sphaeralcea 'Charmeuse' is a hybrid of unknown origin that is still not widely available to buy.

Sphaeralcea 'Charmeuse' is a woody perennial, as wide as it is tall, which quickly reaches a height and width of 1.20 m (4ft), a little less if severely pruned each spring. Its stems bear small alternate, lobed leaves covered in a grey fuzz and less than 3 cm (1in) long which can persist through winter if temperatures do not drop below -6 °C (21.2°F). The stems and foliage may be scorched by the cold, but the plant will vigorously regrow from its crown in spring. The 2 cm (1in) diameter flowers are composed of five heart-shaped, slightly salmon pink petals in small clusters in the axils of the leaves and at the ends of the stems. These flowers are short-lived, but continuously renew themselves. Flowering starts in May-June, depending on the climate, and continues until October. Trimming faded stems will trigger new flowering shoots. In a very dry summer, flowering may slow down until the rain returns. This desert mallow is hardy down to -12°C (10.4°F) in well-drained soil, and it thrives in limestone and poor soils.

Sphaeralcea 'Charmeuse' is appealing because of its simplicity, low requirements, and generous flowers. It is one of the few plants that can flower even without water under scorching sun. In a well-drained bed, rock garden, or on a slope, plant it with Perovskia, Caryopteris, blue, violet, white, or pink shrubby salvias. It also works well with the delicate vegetation of bronze fennel, or with its cousins, the shrub lavateras. It is a lovely companion for dry-soil asters. Finally, its lightness beautifully complements the opulence of romantic roses.