Low-moisture mallows great for colorful displays

By Kathy Hatfield
Gardening Columnist

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A great group of plants for an easy-care colorful flower garden is the mallows. If you have ever seen a hollyhock, you know what a mallow flower looks like. The five separate petals form a funnel-shaped flower with a central column containing the stamens and other reproductive organs.

Besides having attractive flowers, this family includes many economically important members. If you crush a mallow plant, you will notice a slimy texture, due to the presence of natural gums. The roots of at least one species have been used to make a soothing concoction to treat sore throats. Marshmallows, though now made with gum arabic or gelatin, were once produced from the mucilaginous root of the marsh mallow plant.

Most mallows have edible flowers that add a colorful garnish to salads. Other family members contribute fibers (cotton and kapok), wood (from the balsa tree), food products (okra) and pharmaceuticals.

The dry fruit of many mallows looks like a miniature cheese wheel, giving rise to a common name, "cheeses," for some of the mallows. When broken apart, each "cheese wedge" is a seed.

This would be a great time to try one or more of the following in your garden.

Common hollyhock (Alcea spp.)

These are the old-fashioned hollyhocks, the kind you may have used to make hollyhock "dolls" with large colorful skirts. The plants are tough and drought tolerant but have one major drawback; they are susceptible to hollyhock rust. Destroy any of the unsightly, diseased leaves as soon as rust appears. Growing them as annuals or biennials may help prevent the spread of rust. Cutting them back to the ground after flowering also encourages a second flush of growth and flowering.

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)

In late summer, when the flowers of most other shrubs are long gone, this bush is at its peak bloom. There are many cultivars with single or double flowers, in white and various shades of pink, blue and lavender. It is remarkably drought-tolerant once established, but likes an occasional drink during severe drought. It's a good idea to prune this one in early spring since flowering occurs on new wood.

Hollyhock mallow, cheeses (Malva)

Several species of Malva thrive on neglect, and are perennials or self-seeding annuals, depending on growing conditions. Some are short-lived, but self-seed readily. The hollyhock mallows have deep taproots, making them resistant to drought but difficult to transplant. The genus name Malva is from a Greek word meaning "to soften," referring to the skin-softening properties of its mucilaginous sap. The silky flowers attract butterflies, and bloom from summer through fall, making them excellent for naturalizing, for borders and for cut-flower gardens.

There is one undesirable member of this genus: the common mallow (Malva neglecta) is one to avoid. Like its cousins, it is tough - too tough! The pale pink flowers alone are delicate and pretty, but they are sparse on the plant. With its huge taproot, this weed is difficult to eradicate once it finds a home in your garden.

Prairie mallow (Callirhoe involucrata)

I referred to this plant in the March issue, but it's worth mentioning again. This little native wildflower, also known as wine cup and buffalo rose, is covered with magenta, cup-shaped flowers all summer long. It is not invasive, but spreads and re-seeds, making it a great ground cover for hot, dry areas.

Tree mallow, shrub mallow (Lavatera)

At 4 to 5 feet high, this is one of the taller members of the mallow family. It produces flowers for a least a month when grown in full sun. Flower colors range from white to pinks to lavenders, some with contrasting darker veins. Though sometimes referred to as an evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub, Lavatera dies back to the ground in this area.

Checkerbloom (Sidalcea)

The basal leaves of this miniature hollyhock form a shiny green mound, while the stem leaves are more deeply cut. An upright flowering stem perhaps 2 feet tall produces numerous blooms most of the summer. The flowers are suitable for cutting; in fact, cutting them encourages a repeat bloom. Several hybrids are similar in size and bloom time, but have some variation in flower color.

Globe mallow (Sphaeralcea spp.)

Several species of globe mallow are at home in the dry, sunny garden. Flower color ranges from a soft salmon pink to bright red-orange. Leaves are somewhat lobed and either greenish or gray-green. The rather cumbersome generic name refers to the shape of the fruit. Sphaer means globe and alcea refers to hollyhock. Globe mallow is at home in the rock garden, along flagstone pathways or as a border plant.