Lavatera White Angel - Tree Mallow

Lavatera 'White Angel' is a variety of Tree Mallow that offers, throughout the summer, a profusion of white flowers, slightly tinged with pale pink in the centre. They are carried by large downy stems adorned with a beautiful medium green lobed foliage. It is a plant of impressive stature that quickly reaches a height of 1.5 metres (5 feet). Very bright, it makes an excellent background plant and can also be planted as a standalone specimen.

Lavateras belong to the large family of Malvaceae. It is a genus that includes numerous species, some more woody than others and these can be annuals, biennials, or perennials. They originate from various temperate regions of the globe but are mainly found in Mediterranean climates. The variety 'White Angel' bears flowers measuring 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3in) in diameter, composed of five petals that are quite spaced apart and strongly bilobed.  These are beautiful white slightly tinged with pink in the centre. These flowers are ephemeral but they constantly renew themselves from July to August. Its habit is spreading and quickly reaches a height of 1.5 metres (5 feet) and a width of 1.2 metres (4 feet).

It is a sun-loving plant that tolerates any soil, even ordinary, dry, and well-drained soil. It tolerates drought without any problems, but in gardens exposed to strong winds, it requires good staking. Its maintenance is very simple and consists only of cutting back its stems, at the beginning of winter, to a height of 50 cm (20in). The 'White Angel' Lavatera is quite hardy but it is advisable to protect it with a good layer of dead leaves in regions with very harsh winters. It withstands salt spray well and can therefore be planted by the seaside. In the garden, its vigorous growth allows it to be planted as a standalone specimen, for example to mark an entrance. It also forms magnificent backgrounds for flower beds and goes very well with roses. You can easily associate it with perennial sages, Yarrows or even with its relatives the hollyhocks and the common mallow.