Malva Species, Tree Mallow, Sea Mallow

L. maritima should not stand -10°F, even for a short time. A hard frost kills the plant before the flowering stage. I grow it as a annua...Read Morel species, as it can reach the size of a small tree within half a year.

I love this plant, it's rarely out of bloom here in Australia, it grows quickly and just doesn't seem to need much attention. My shrub i...Read Mores the plain Lavatera Maratima, but I'm hoping to get the "Kew Rose" cultivar to make an informal hedge. I don't know what 'zone' I am, but summer temps can get around mid 40C and winter into spring often sees frosts. Rarely, though as cold as minus 5C.

If anyone wants a quick informal hedge or privacy screen, this one would only take a couple of years to get there.

In Oregon, the Lavatera Maritima is commonly named as the "Hawaian Tree Geranium", when in fact it is a tree mallow.

It ...Read Moreis best planted near the house as there is some damage caused by hard freezes, Do not let any snow slide off the roof on them as it will snap off the "trunks".

Can be grown as a shrub or kept pruned to form a small tree.

Just planted March 2007. I purchased the plant in a 1 gallon pot after seeing it growing at the nursery. Tends to be open, rangy grower...Read More, so needs to be cut back hard. Flowers are abundant--a lovely pink with dark rose center and veining. After I have more experience with it, I'll add to this report.