Barnsley Tree Mallow Plants

Lavatera × clementii 'Barnsley' Tree Mallow Plants - 3 Litre Pots

Semi-evergreen, award-winning shrub that is great for filling an a corner with an abundance of red-eyed, pinky white flowers for most of the summer. It resembles a bushy version of the hollyhock and can produce thousands of flowers over a season on tall stems with grey-green maple leafed shaped leaves. Bees love them.

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Features

• Colour: White, developing pink and a red centre
• Season: June to September
• To 1.5m x 1.5m
  
• Vigorous, spreading - looks tidiest when trimmed throughout the season
• Easy to grow in any sunny well-drained location & the coast

Growing Lavatera 'Barnsley'

Lavatera are wonderfully easy plants to nurture, growing vigorously in any well-drained soil that also has plenty of sun. They do prefer bit of shelter however as their stems can be flattened by the wind: South facing walls and corners are great.

Hard prune it yearly to keep the plant in check. There are two ways to do so:

• Low maintenance: cut the whole bush back by about 50% as soon as it finishes flowering, and then cut it down again in Spring after the last frost to 30-50cm above the ground.
• Higher maintenance: good for plants in exposed locations, because it develops stronger stems. Follow the same principles as above, plus trim off the tips of the stems regularly throughout the summer: every time it grows by about 30-40cm, pinch or trim off the top bud (or more, if it is outgrowing its space). You'll end up with more flowers, a tidier shape, and tougher stems that can handle some wind.

In Your Garden Design

This versatile number holds up well in paved urban areas, or as part of a feature in a cottage garden. Sun loving, they also fit in well with Mediterranean schemes making great companion plants for roses, nepeta and salvia. Plant as a colourful backdrop for borders or as a floriferous feature in walled gardens.

For a smaller area or ideal patio performer, try its junior sibling Lavatera 'Barnsley Baby'.

Did You Know?

Mallow seeds and leaves were eaten by the Romans and are still regarded as an edible delicacy today by foragers. The leaves can be used like spinach and cooked. The seeds are disc shaped and resemble 'nutlets' or 'cheeses'. In Norfolk, they are referred to as 'pick cheeses'. The flower buds can be pickled. They plant is reported to be high in vitamin C and A and the leaves are good antioxidants.