Tree Mallow 'Barnsley'

Lavatera 'Barnsley' is a remarkably fast-growing, semi-evergreen shrub that provides an explosion of colour in the summer garden. This cultivar is a sport of 'Rosea' and is famous for its large, hollyhock-like flowers. The blooms emerge as a very pale pink, almost white, with a striking deep red-pink eye, and as they age, the entire flower may take on a darker pink flush. It has a vigorous, upright habit and can easily reach 2 metres in a single season, making it excellent for quickly filling gaps in a new border. While it is generally hardy (H4), it can be short-lived, often exhausting itself after a few years of heavy flowering. To prolong its life, it should be hard-pruned back to a low framework each spring. It thrives in a hot, sunny position with well-drained soil and is particularly well-suited to coastal gardens as it tolerates salt spray. It is almost always covered in bees during its long flowering period.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Well-drained, light soil.

Hardiness: H4 — down to −10°C.

Flowering: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.