Bush Mallow

Lavatera bicolor (maritima) - Mallow is a fast growing, soft branched, evergreen shrub with dual colored flowers of lavender and purple. Grows up to 6 ft in height, but more usually to 3-4 ft. The spread is comparable to the height.

The stems are a brownish green, aging to brown, with a covering of short hairs, before becoming woody, whereupon they become a pale grey, slightly roughened by sub-parallel lengthways striations.

The leaves are borne alternately (one per node), subtended by two stipules. They are tomentose, simple, sub-orbicular, palmately 5-lobed and crenate. They are 5 cm wide and 4 cm long. There is little variation in leaf form, but leaves near the base of the plant have rounder and shallower lobes.

The flowers are about 8cm across. They are slightly nodding. They are borne from mid-summer to late autumn.