Botanical Name: Lavatera assurgentiflora
Common Name: Channel Island tree mallow, California tree mallow
Type of Plant: Dicot: Shrub
Character evergreen
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape an erect, wide-spreading plant, with vigorous growth to produce a large, fully rounded shrub which may become treelike with age; bark is fairly smooth, grayish white; branches somewhat brittle
Height 8' - 15' (20')
Spread equal or more
Growth Rate rapid
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors full or partial sun
Soil tolerates most except highly alkaline; prefers well-drained
Hardiness hardy (zones 14-24): prefers warm coastal habitats
 
Morphology:
Leaves palmate, alternate, maple-like, 3-7 lobed; 2"-4"(6") long, dull green, coarsely toothed
Flowers reddish-lavender, white and purple-striped petals; 2-2 1/2" diameter, 5-petaled, mostly solitary, axillary; April-August, intermittent
Fruit oval capsule, 1/2" across
 
Propagation:
seed, semi-hardwood cuttings
 
Usage:
an excellent fast-growing background shrub or large informal hedge, valued for its flower display and easy care; can be sheared to develop a denser canopy
 
Landscape Care:
Watering occasional deep soak; very drought-resistant after established; avoid heavy watering
Fertilizing little needed
Pruning can leave alone; selectively head back or infrequent shear to enhance full canopy; can be trained into tree form
Pests/Diseases soil root rot in wet clay soils
Special Conditions/Other
 
Origin: Southern California Islands
Family: Malvaceae

Notes:
 
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