Sidalcea Candy Girl

Sidalcea Candy Girl is a tall variety with deep pink flowers and prominent stamens. This deciduous perennial cousin of mallows is not commonly used in our gardens. It blooms like a miniature hollyhock, with flared cups on the upper part of the stems. It is a delicate plant, perfect plant for English gardens and romantic or cottage garden beds. Its light, fresh flowers form a tangle along upright stems, above shiny green basal leaves. Plant it in moist and well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade.

Sidalcea 'Candy Girl' belongs to the mallow family, like hollyhocks and marshmallows. Its ancestors lived in meadows and clearings in the Northwest of America. It is a short-lived herbaceous perennial that reaches maturity in 2 to 5 years. It ensures its perpetuity through numerous spontaneous seedlings. Candy Girl, reaches 60 to 90 cm (24 to 35in) high at maturity and 50 to 70 cm (20 to 28in) wide. It blooms between July and September with sturdy, unbranched spikes, bearing numerous small, deep pink 3 to 4 cm (1 to 2in) wide flowers, resembling hollyhocks, with 5 fringed, silky, veined petals. The tuft of basal foliage consists of large, toothed, kidney-shaped, dissected leaves, the stem leaves are smaller and narrower. The foliage is all deciduous and beautiful bright green. 

Place adorable, hardy Sidalcea Candy Girl in the middle of flower beds, with Paniculate Phlox, Poppies and Perennial Delphiniums to create an elegant scene. This lovely plant also thrives in a moist rock garden, with Perennial Geraniums, Mulleins and Lady's Mantles. You can create refined summer bouquets with cut flowers.