Cape African-queen
Anisodontea capensis · Malvaceae
📷 Michael Wolf · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
Cape african-queen is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Common name
- Cape Mallow
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Type
- Shrub
- Adult height
- 1.2 m
- Flowering
- May to October
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Hardiness
- Moderate (light to moderate frosts)
- Origin
- South Africa
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Anisodontea blooms for a long time if you regularly deadhead spent flowers. Light pruning keeps the center airy.
The common mistake
Many let it get thick and overgrown without pruning: it becomes a sterile, dense tangle at the heart.
The pro's trick
Pinch back young plants through June to force low branching.
Care
Sunlight
Cape Mallow thrives in full sun, which stimulates generous and prolonged flowering. It tolerates very sunny locations without fear of leaf burn. A minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day is recommended for a compact shape and optimal flowering.
Watering
Water regularly during growth and flowering periods, keeping the soil moist but not saturated. Reduce watering in winter, particularly in cold regions. Allow the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings to prevent root rot.
Soil
Well-draining soil is essential: choose a light mix enriched with sand or pozzolana. Cape Mallow tolerates poor and even stony soils. Avoid waterlogging at all costs, especially in pots where a specialized potting mix for Mediterranean plants is ideal.
Pruning and pinching
Pinch back young shoots in spring to encourage dense branching and a compact shape. Remove spent flowers regularly to extend flowering. Light pruning after winter keeps the shrub balanced and rejuvenates old wood.
Fertilizer
Apply balanced or slightly phosphorus-rich fertilizer once or twice monthly during flowering. Limit applications in winter or cease them depending on your climate. Excess nitrogen encourages foliage at the expense of flowers.
Diseases and pests
Cape Mallow is generally robust. Watch for spider mites and whiteflies in dry conditions. Powdery mildew can appear with excessive humidity and poor air circulation. Good air flow and soil-level watering minimize these risks.
Did you know?
Anisodontea capensis takes its genus name from « Anisodontea » which literally means « unequal teeth » referring to the characteristic shape of its sepals. Native to South African Mediterranean flora, this hardy little mallow spread through European gardens from the 19th century onward, becoming a classic in dry gardens and Mediterranean coasts thanks to its drought tolerance and spectacular flowering.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Small-leaved limeTilia cordata
- Rose of SharonHibiscus syriacus
- Marsh mallowAlthaea officinalis
- Silver LimeTilia tomentosa
- Crimean lindenTilia euchlora
- Swamp hibiscusHibiscus moscheutos
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.