Lavatera

Tree mallow 'Barnsley Baby' is a compact variant of the popular perennial that brings a touch of Mediterranean romance and lightness to the garden. Unlike its massive relatives, which grow to impressive dimensions in their homeland, this cultivar stays low with a height of around 75 centimeters. Thanks to this, it fits perfectly even into smaller perennial beds, front gardens, or mixed plantings, where other tree mallows would take up too much space. The plant forms a dense, richly branched bush covered with green leaves, which from June to August gets literally covered in a multitude of large, delicate pink flowers resembling hibiscuses. These are an irresistible attraction not only for the human eye but especially for bees and other pollinators, who find a rich source of nectar in them. As a plant originally from the Mediterranean, tree mallow 'Barnsley Baby' requires full sun and well-drained, loamy soil in which it is not at risk of waterlogging. Although it ranks among short-lived perennials, it will richly compensate for this trait with its speed of growth and blooming intensity right in the first season after planting. In our conditions, its frost resistance is limited to about -10 °C, so it is advisable to cover the plant with conifer branches for winter or plant it in a protected, warm location, for example by the south wall of a house. The flowers are edible and can decorate summer salads or desserts, and if you want to bring a piece of summer home, the sturdy stems also last well in a vase as charming cut flowers.

Tree mallow 'Burgundy Wine' is an unmissable perennial that will light up the garden in summer with a flood of deep burgundy flowers. This semi-woody plant resembles hibiscuses and, thanks to its vigorous growth and felt-like, grayish-green leaves, adds a relaxed, almost Mediterranean touch to the flower beds. The 'Burgundy Wine' cultivar stands out precisely for that intense dark pink to red hue of its flowers, which bloom tirelessly from June to August and are a great attraction for bees, bumblebees, and other pollinators. It is a plant that loves full sun and well-drained, loamy soil. In our conditions, it often behaves as a short-lived perennial or subshrub, because its frost resistance reaches approximately -12 °C. It is therefore ideal for growing in large pots on the terrace, which you can hide in a frost-free room for the winter, or for planting in very sheltered, warm locations with a thorough winter covering. If you are looking for a plant to quickly fill a spot in a perennial bed that will make a great show, the tree mallow is a great choice. In addition, the sturdy stems with flowers can be cut for a vase, where they will last and bring joy at home too.