Malva arborea
Malva arborea · Malvaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around malva arborea and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Blooming
- June to September
- Adult size
- 2 to 3 m tall × 1.5 to 2 m wide
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Down to approximately -5 °C
- Origin
- Mediterranean region
- Soil type
- Well-drained, tolerates poor soil
Care
Watering
Water regularly during the growing and blooming period, especially in summer. Once established, tree mallow tolerates drought well. Reduce watering in winter, particularly in cold regions.
Light Exposure
Place tree mallow in full sun for abundant flowering. It accepts partial shade but flowers less generously. Make sure it gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
Pruning and Cutting
Perform light pruning in late winter to maintain a compact shape and remove dead or damaged wood. You can cut back stems by a third without risk. Remove spent flowers to encourage prolonged blooming.
Soil
Favor well-drained soil, even poor or stony. Tree mallow adapts well to dry, Mediterranean substrates. Avoid standing moisture which promotes root rot.
Fertilizer
A modest application of balanced fertilizer in spring is more than enough. Excess nitrogen promotes foliage at the expense of flowering. On naturally poor soil, the shrub thrives without additional feeding.
Diseases and Pests
Tree mallow is generally robust. Watch for mealybugs and spider mites in dry conditions. Excess moisture can cause leaf spotting; improve air circulation and reduce watering if problems occur.
Did you know?
Tree mallow was long cultivated in the Mediterranean region for its emollient properties recognized in traditional medicine. In the Middle Ages, mallows featured among the 'four major plants' of the medieval garden, alongside violet, rose, and lily, both for their therapeutic use and their beauty.
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.