Lavatera thuringiaca ‘First Light’

Tree Mallow forms a large upright bush of heart-shaped grey-green leaves. This strain has single Hollyhock-type blooms of white with a flush of pale pink in the centre. Flowering continues all summer long. This is actually a woody shrub, but is usually cut back hard to 6 or 8 inches each spring. Plants get large and may require staking, especially in windy areas. In Zones 5 to 6 plants should be mulched for the winter. Gardeners in cold winter regions could consider this as an annual that flowers for the whole summer and fall. A recent introduction from Jelitto Seeds of Germany.