Prairie Mallow 'Little Princess'

Sidalcea 'Little Princess' is a charming and delicate-looking perennial that resembles a miniature hollyhock. It produces many upright, slender spikes crowded with small, satiny, cup-shaped flowers of a clear sugary pink. The leaves at the base are rounded, while those on the stems are more deeply divided. This cultivar is particularly noted for its compact habit, usually only reaching about 40-50cm in height, making it far less prone to flopping than taller varieties. It is fully hardy (H7) and a lovely addition to the middle or front of a cottage garden border. It performs best in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil that does not get too dry. After the first flush of flowers has finished, cutting the stems back to the ground can often encourage a second round of blooms later in the summer. It is a relatively short-lived perennial, so it is a good idea to divide the clumps every few years to maintain its presence in the garden. It is highly attractive to bees and adds a soft, feminine touch to any planting scheme.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Well-drained, fertile loam or sand.

Hardiness: H7 — below −20°C.

Flowering: Jun, Jul, Aug.