Genus: Lavatera

I didn't realise it was an annual! Ok, must get some of them going next year - onto the wish list!

Very pretty! I'm seeing lots of these in gardens now and thinking how great they look - waiting for one to be on sale somewhere!

For really hard pruning, early spring is the best time, once the threat of hard frosts has passed. You can be really ruthless with it, taking it down to something like twelve inch stumps. In the meantime, you could reduce it by about a third now to prevent winter storms smashing it to pieces

beautiful

What a gorgeous flower and color!

So lovely Lorraine!

Wow, gorgeous!

Good close-up, real pretty.

still a good show though right to the end :D

it,s a lovely colour

Gorgeous Pink :) Iv got the Dark Pink 1 that grew from a wild flower seed packet :)

Great magazine for free seeds Pansypotter, always have great results with them myself

Lovely colour. Maybe too cold for it in the N.E. of Scotland.

Good idea with the book Muddywellies, I may do that, because sometimes the person at the shop doesn't have any idea.

Many plants from warmer climes live less in northern climes and are treated as annuals almost. But plants are generally highly resilient and if they are in a warm microclimate it can make a tremendous difference. After a while you may find this mallow is self propagating as it seeds itself, but first off I would follow Xela's advice.
Gardening tip. Best to do the 'looking up' before you buy. Try leaving an old garden book in the boot when you spot something.

Oooh I'll be planting them everywhere lol.

These can be propagated by taking cuttings, Libby, so you can have more than one after this year :-)

You are one of my favourites too. This is stunning. Looks like fireworks inside the flower. Isn't nature wonderful?

This is the prettiest lavatera I've seen ! Love the pastel pink with the darker pink eye.

Lovely

hiya welcome, hope to see more pics soon.

Thanks Dioon11, .....They have got a bit battered with the rain and wind...but seem to bounce up again....

Lovely photo, great detail

As you may have read, my Lavatera suddenly died so I bought a new one a bit rashly - the Nursery didn't know what colour L. 'Cynthia Nixon' was! I am pleased with it now it has begun to open. The colour is not 'brash' or wishy-washy, it's just - well, a pretty pink!

Ive got several plants in the garden but im finding they are a bit slow to get going this year for some reason .

I love lavatera. Mine snapped off last summer!! We tried to make a standard out of it so it didn't take up so much room and it got top heavy :-(

I'm glad your new Lavatera is a success.

We have had a lot of rain and the garden retains the moisture in the soil..a bit to much at times.....maybe you could grow one in a tub....

Man... I just love this shrub, just wish it loved me, I've killed it twice already, it just can't take the frequent shallow watering my garden gets !

I shall go and have a look in the morning. I like Lavatera! I was considering planting something else instead but I think I will buy a new one.

I have heard (after mine died) that Lavatera do have a habit of suddenly dieing unexpectedly - they are considered short lived shrubs. Can't quite recall whether it was related or not, but they are prone to 'wind rock', which can damage the roots. Mine was definately loose in the ground when it died, despite having been staked to support it. Is yours loose?

We haven't had any snow at all this last winter, and the last frost was some weeks ago. This 'wilt' has only just happened.... I was going to dig it up but I'll leave it for a while to see if it revives. It is a cutting, it's now 18 months old.

Have you had frosts recently? how was it through that bit of late snow you had? (Or were you fortunate enough to miss that?) If it's a virus best to destroy it. sad to say.. my sympathies.

I had a large Lavatera a few years ago and it suddenly wilted in spring, like yours. I didn't know what was wrong with it but it seemed to revive all an its own. I've also heard that they are short-lived plants , and it is best to keep taking cuttings. I hope this doesn't dishearten you. How old is your Lavatera?

Is there a disease prelevant at the moment that is hitting Lavatera hard ? I had a Lavatera x clementii Barnsley which has been happily growing in my garden for several years now but this spring it has disappeared without trace.

Just love your photos they are amazing.

Really impressive pictures!!

Rachelscott_renouf, I have put you on my favourites to make sure I don´t miss any of your pictures :)