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Malva arborea

tree mallow

Malvaceae

Western and southern Europe and the Mediterranean

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Malva arborea is a tall biennial or short-lived perennial reaching 3-10 feet (1-3 m) tall, with a stout, woody-based stem that gives the plant a shrub-like form in its second year. The leaves are large, soft, and downy, 3-8 inches (8-20 cm) wide, rounded with five to seven shallow lobes and a felted texture. From late spring through summer it produces clusters of five-petalled flowers 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) across in pink to purple-mauve, each petal marked with darker veins toward the base. The flowers give way to ring-shaped clusters of dry single-seeded segments. Native to rocky and disturbed coasts, it tolerates salt spray, wind, and poor sandy soils, often growing near seabird colonies on nutrient-rich ground. It usually flowers in its second year and then dies, persisting by self-seeding. A limitation is its short life and tendency to become leggy and top-heavy, often needing replacement every two to three years.

Native Range

Malva arborea is native to the rocky coasts of western and southern Europe and the Mediterranean. It grows on sea cliffs, shingle, and disturbed coastal ground, frequently near seabird colonies where the soil is enriched.

Suggested Uses

Malva arborea is used in coastal and seaside gardens, gravel plantings, and exposed sites where salt and wind limit other plants. Its rapid growth gives quick height and summer color in new or temporary plantings. The flowers supply nectar for bees and other pollinators.

How to Identify

Recognized by its tall, woody-based stem and large, soft, downy lobed leaves with a felted feel. The pink to purple-mauve flowers 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) across have dark veins radiating from the centre. Its coastal habit and shrub-like second-year form separate it from smaller herbaceous mallows such as Malva sylvestris.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 10'

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~18 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flowering extends from late spring through summer, roughly May to September, mainly in the plant's second year. Flowers open in succession along the upper stems over many weeks. Seed ripens through late summer and autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pink to purple-mauve

Foliage Description

grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Malva arborea grows in full sun in light, freely drained sandy or stony soil and tolerates exposed, salt-laden coastal sites. It withstands a soil pH from about 6.0 to 8.0 and copes with low fertility and drought once established. Plants grow quickly from seed, forming a leafy rosette in the first year and flowering stems in the second. In cold inland gardens hard frost can kill the plant, which is hardy only to around 20 F (-7 C). Self-sown seedlings usually maintain a colony without intervention. Shelter from the strongest winds reduces stem breakage on tall specimens.

Pruning

Little pruning is needed beyond removing dead or broken stems. Cutting back the flowered stems in autumn tidies the plant and can prolong the life of a perennial specimen. Spent plants are pulled out once they die after seeding.