Lavatera maritima - Tree Mallow

Lavatera maritima is a perennial woody shrub with an upright, bushy habit. It is particularly floriferous! It has evergreen, velvety foliage, which is a beautiful grey-green ash colour. It offers generous and prolonged cup-shaped flowers typical of the Malvaceae family, which are white with hints of lilac pink, enhanced by a dark magenta centre with prominent fused stamens. It is a fast-growing species that requires a location in full sun and dry, well-drained, light soil. Native to the Mediterranean coasts, it is highly resistant to sea spray and tolerant of slight ambient humidity. Not very hardy, it is an interesting perennial for rockeries, containers, and medium hedges, even by the seaside! 

Originally from the south of France, the tree mallow is mainly found along the Mediterranean coast, growing in gravel and between rocks in warm and dry conditions. Choose a hot and sunny position and a dry, light, and well-draining soil, even a rocky soil. Don't hesitate to add gravel during planting. It is a woody perennial with rough, grey stems. Hardy down to -7°C (19.4°F), it is specially adapted to coastal and warm, dry areas. It grows rapidly, reaching 1.5m (5ft) in height and 1m (3ft) in width. The numerous saucer-shaped flowers with five narrow petals, similar to those of a Hibiscus and mallow are washed white with lilac pink, mottled with dark magenta, and measure from 3 to 4 cm (1 to 2in) in diameter. They bloom from June until October;  but in their natural habitat, they may have a longer flowering period. The foliage of this tree mallow is evergreen, thick, tomentose, suborbicular in shape, and of a remarkable grey-green ash colour, pale just like its flowers.

Combine this tree mallow with other Mediterranean species such as cistus, lavenders, Spanish brooms, euphorbias, and Spanish daisies in rocky beds and gravelly borders in a wild-style garden. It integrates well in mixed hedges and as a specimen plant in short grassy meadows with Delosperma and low artemisias.