Lavatera 'Marshmallow' Flowering Shrubs

Mallow can be slow to break bud in spring so be patient with plants that might appear to have died over winter as they may still be dormant.

Planting Advice for Lavatera

• Grow in full sun in moist, well-drained soil. Alternatively, can be grown successfully in a pot.
• Before planting, prepare the soil by digging over and removing any weeds.
• Water your potted shrub well.
• Dig a hole a little deeper and 3 x wider than the nursery pot.
• Add a conditioner such as well rotted manure to the earth removed from the hole if necessary.
• Remove the plant from its pot and tease out a few of the roots.
• Place your shrub in the hole at the same level at the pot then refill the hole with the earth removed (backfilling).
• Firm in the soil with your heel, avoiding the root ball and water well.
• Mulch around the base of the plant with a collar, compost, gravel, bark etc.
• If planting in a container, use the best compost that you can buy (our premium compost is ideal) and add some stones or gravel to the bottom of the pot to improve drainage and also to provide some ballast to stop the pot blowing over.

Aftercare Advice for your Tree Mallow

• Your mallow will need regular water when first planted until established. After that, they fairly maintenance free.
• Feed plants regularly during the growing season with a general-purpose feed such as our Blooming Fast soluble fertiliser.

Pruning Advice

• Pruning lavatera is best undertaken in spring when all risk of frost has passed, and new buds are swelling.
• Prune all stems back to about 30cm above ground level.