Lavatera plants
Lavatera are easy to grow, upright garden shrubs with large, showy, saucer-shaped blooms typically in shades of whites, pinks and reds that clothe the bush throughout the summer. The flowers have hibiscus-like petals, often two-tone and perfect for attracting bees and pollinating insects. Lavatera are popular medium-sized bushes, typically reaching around 2 metres tall, making them well suited for the mid to back of the border with plenty of space, or larger container displays. Commonly known as tree or shrubby mallows, they are low maintenance and trouble-free, growing on most soils including poor, dry soil with a preference for good drainage. In colder norther parts of the UK, Lavatera are best planted against a warm wall to provide some winter frost protection. Deadhead Lavatera regularly to encourage a continuous flush of fresh new blooms throughout the season, but leave a few flowers in late summer if you want it to reseed. Prune in the spring to maintain a tidy, shapely structure.