Althaea cannabina
(Palm-leaf Marsh Mallow)
Family - Malvaceae
Category - Perennial
Season of Interest - Summer
Hardiness - H7
Height - 2m or more
Width - 60cm
Location - The East Border, The Terrace
Description: A tall, airy Perennial with an upright, branching habit. Larger Basal Leaves are deeply lobed with lanceolate lobes and coarsely toothed margins. The stems have much smaller leaves which are very sparse, the stems are nearly leafless. Cup-shaped, mallow-type flowers are rose pink, each Bloom with a darker purplish-pink Eye. The flowers are held singly or in small clusters on long pedicels. The flowers are produced on tall stems from mid-summer into early autumn. Attractive to pollinating insects.
Flower:
Cup-shaped flowers with five petals are rose pink and each bloom has a darker purplish-pink centre. The blooms are held singly or in small clusters on long pedicels. The flowers are produced up the tall stems from July into September.
Flower colour: Pink
Flower shape: Cup-shaped, 5-petalled flowers held singly or in small clusters
Flowering time: July, August, September
Foliage:
Dark green leaves are deeply lobed with narrow, Dentate lobes. Larger leaves are held at the base of the plant and the tall stems are nearly leafless.
Foliage Senescence: Deciduous
Foliage Shape: Deeply lobed leaves
Propagation:
Seed.
Cultivation:
Best in full sun in fertile, moisture-retentive soil that is well-drained.