How to Grow Lavatera (Tree Mallow)

Lavatera, or tree mallow, is one of the fastest ways to fill a gap in a sunny border. It grows quickly and is covered in pink or white mallow flowers from early summer into autumn.

It's easy and rewarding, as long as you know what to expect from it. Here's how to grow it.

Lavatera at a Glance

• Hardiness: hardy in most of Britain, but naturally short-lived.
• Position: full sun, sheltered from strong wind.
• Size: fast-growing, about 1 to 3m.
• Flowers: June to October.
• When to plant: May and June.
• Good for: filling gaps, sunny borders, coastal gardens and dry spots.

Lavatera has been renamed Malva by botanists, so you'll see both names. 'Barnsley', 'Rosea' and 'Burgundy Wine' are familiar varieties.

Where to Plant Lavatera

Give lavatera full sun and soil that drains well. It copes with dry spells and salty seaside air, but its stems are brittle and can snap in strong wind, so give it a sheltered spot in an exposed garden. A hard winter on heavy, wet soil can finish off an older plant.

How Long Does Lavatera Live?

Lavatera grows very fast and flowers for months, but it tends to get woody and split apart after four or five years. It's best treated as a quick, colourful gap filler rather than a permanent shrub, and replaced when it starts to tire.

Caring for Lavatera

• Watering: water new plants in dry spells while they settle in.
• Pruning: many gardeners cut lavatera back in spring to keep it bushy and compact.
• Support: in a windy spot, a stake can help stop the stems breaking.

Lavatera: Your Questions Answered

Is lavatera hardy?

Yes, in most of Britain, though a hard winter on heavy, wet soil can kill older plants.

How fast does lavatera grow?

Very fast. It can fill a gap in a single season.

Why has my lavatera split?

Lavatera is naturally short-lived and tends to split after four or five years, especially in wind. Replace it with a young plant.

Quick Colour for Sunny Gaps

For months of flowers in a hurry, few shrubs beat lavatera. Browse our lavatera.

Our garden plants are grown in Britain by growers we know, including the Yorkshire nursery that grows most of them. We check every plant by hand before it's packed, and send it out ready for your garden.