How to grow lavatera

Lavatera is a genus of annuals, biennials, perennials or shrubs that have large open blooms in white or pink. Lavatera are part of the mallow family and have recently been moved to the Malva genus, but are still widely known as lavatera. With their long flowering season and range of different plant types, lavateras are good for a variety of planting situations, including growing as border shrubs, filling gaps or including in a summer container display. Lavatera flowers are attractive to bees and other pollinating insects.

Where to grow lavatera

Lavatera grow best in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun, ideally in a sheltered spot out of cold, drying winds. They won’t thrive in windy positions or waterlogged soil.

When to plant lavatera

Annual lavatera can be sown from seed in early spring and planted out in late spring. Perennial varieties can be bought as young plants and planted out in spring, providing the ground isn't waterlogged or frozen.

How to plant lavatera

Sow annual lavatera seeds in trays under cover. When seedlings are large enough to handle, pot on and harden off before planting out into borders. When planting perennial or shrubby lavatera, dig a generous hole, adding compost for drainage and a handful of mycorrhizal fungi to encourage good root development.

If you're growing lavatera in a container, choose a compact variety and a container with good drainage holes. Plant perennial and shrubby lavatera in a soil-based compost, such as peat-free John Innes No. 3. Place the container in a sheltered, sunny spot, for example in front of a south-facing wall.

How to care for lavatera

Lavatera are easy to grow and shouldn't require feeding or watering once established in the ground. Plants in containers will benefit from annual top dressing with an organic mulch and they'll need regular watering in hot weather.

One advantage of growing lavatera in containers is that it's quick and easy to bring tender varieties into an unheated greenhouse over the winter. Plants in containers only require minimal watering during the winter.

How to prune lavatera

Herbaceous perennial lavatera will die back in winter. Leave dead material over the winter months to provide shelter for wildlife and cut back in early spring before the new growth begins. Prune shrubby lavatera, such as Lavatera maritima, in spring. Cut stems back to within a bud or two of the previous year’s cuts to maintain the woody framework and remove any dead, diseased, damaged or crossing stems.

Sub-shrubs like ‘Barnsley’ and ‘Barnsley Baby’ should be tidied in autumn and then pruned hard in late spring by cutting stems back to 30cm from ground level. Reduce the stems of any large lavateras by up to half in autumn to prevent damage from wind rock.

How to propagate lavatera

If you want to grow your existing annual or biennial lavatera in subsequent years, let some flowerheads develop into seedpods and save the seeds. You can then sow these seeds in spring, but they might not come true, which means any new plants won’t necessarily look like their parents. Alternatively, you can take softwood cuttings from perennial and shrubby lavatera.

Pests and diseases

Lavatera are generally pest-free but can be prone to rust and fungal diseases. Remove affected foliage as and when you spot signs of disease.

Lavatera varieties to grow

Lavatera trimestris ‘Mont Blanc’ is a large bushy annual plant with masses of huge white, trumpet-shaped flowers, which are extremely attractive to bees. Height x Spread: 1m x 45cm

• Buy Lavatera trimestris 'Mont Blanc' from Chiltern Seeds

Lavatera trimestris 'Beauty Mix’ is is an annual variety that produces pink and white flowers on tall, bushy plants through the summer. The Royal Horticultural Society has awarded it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). H x S: 90cm x 45cm

• Buy Lavatera trimestris 'Beauty Mix' from Suttons

Lavatera maritima, also known as the tree mallow, is a fast-growing medium-sized, semi-evergreen shrub. White flowers with a flush of purple appear from spring through to autumn. The RHS has given it the Award of Garden Merit (AGM). H x S: 1.5m x 1m

• Buy Lavatera maritima from Gardening Express

Lavatera ‘Barnsley’, now known as Malva x clementii 'Barnsley', is a bushy shrub variety with soft pink flowers with a darker centre. 'Barnsley' has also received the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM). H x S: 2m x 1.5m

• Buy Lavatera 'Barnsley' from Crocus

Lavatera 'Barnsley Baby', now known as Malva x clementii 'Barnsley Baby', is a compact shrub variety. The white flowers of this dwarf lavatera develop a soft pink flush and the pink eyes become darker as the flowers age. H x S: 75cm x 60cm

• Buy Lavatera 'Barnsley Baby' from Dobies

Frequently asked questions

Does lavatera come back every year?

Perennial lavatera will come back every year, although plants are generally short-lived and are likely to last around five years. Annual varieties will flower until the first frosts in the year they are sown and then die.

How many times a year does lavatera flower?

Lavatera flowers once a year, but the flowering period is long, lasting from June until September.