I think Dave what you are looking for is Hibiscus which is a tender perennial with larger more exotic flowers than the tree mallow-all from the same family
So can go outside but is not frost hardy-does need warmth to flower
Plants should be readily available around March/ April onwards
Thanks Geoff, but its definitely not Hibiscus around me there are lavatera by the bucket load in peoples gardens, some have been there for several years now and are quite big now. I might have to bite the bullet and ask if I can take a cutting from one if I cant find a young plant or seed. I did get some seeds from a tree in Portugal last year but can't remember where I put them.
hang on, I just saw a post on google that says Hibiscus rose of sharon, which is what I saw, lavatera rose of sharon. The hibiscus flower looks quite different to the ones near me. It is around 8ft tall and looks like this
Dave, they're easy from cuttings, (even for me). If you've seen one you like go and ask for a piece. Check to see what it looks like in winter, mine was a sorry drab mess, I got rid of it
L. arborea will come from seed but all those larger flowered, different colours, hybrids/cultivars won't be as the parent
T&M used to offer this as seed. I grew mine from their seed many years ago, and still have the plants.
The plant went out of fashion, and is not listed in their current seed catalogue. But I would have thought that other seed suppliers would have that, or more modern and improved varieties.
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I think Dave what you are looking for is Hibiscus which is a tender perennial with larger more exotic flowers than the tree mallow-all from the same family
So can go outside but is not frost hardy-does need warmth to flower
Plants should be readily available around March/ April onwards
Thanks Geoff, but its definitely not Hibiscus around me there are lavatera by the bucket load in peoples gardens, some have been there for several years now and are quite big now. I might have to bite the bullet and ask if I can take a cutting from one if I cant find a young plant or seed. I did get some seeds from a tree in Portugal last year but can't remember where I put them.
hang on, I just saw a post on google that says Hibiscus rose of sharon, which is what I saw, lavatera rose of sharon. The hibiscus flower looks quite different to the ones near me. It is around 8ft tall and looks like this
and this: Lavatera brendon springs
This of those daft things were one plant is called by different names-your pictures I would call lavatera or tree mallow not hibiscus-confusion reigns
Probably Lavatera arborea or one of the hybrids/cultivars like 'Barnsley'
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=3376
Seems to have got enough synonyms to confuse anyone
In the sticks near Peterborough
Tell me about it, it seems to have lots of names and types, I just want to make sure I end up with the right one which is proving to be a problem.
this one looks right but then its a dwarf 90cm
http://www.vanmeuwen.com/flowers/flower-plants/cottage-garden-plants/lavatera-barnsley-baby/61329VM
Dave, they're easy from cuttings, (even for me). If you've seen one you like go and ask for a piece. Check to see what it looks like in winter, mine was a sorry drab mess, I got rid of it
L. arborea will come from seed but all those larger flowered, different colours, hybrids/cultivars won't be as the parent
In the sticks near Peterborough
I have both Hibiscus and perennial Lavatera. They are quite different plants.
The shrubby perennial Lavateras I have is Lavatera Olbia. More details:
http://www.malvaceae.info/Genera/Lavatera/shrubby.html
T&M used to offer this as seed. I grew mine from their seed many years ago, and still have the plants.
The plant went out of fashion, and is not listed in their current seed catalogue. But I would have thought that other seed suppliers would have that, or more modern and improved varieties.
Even more to choose from. Definitely get a cutting from one you like the look of. Only way to be sure.
In the sticks near Peterborough