How to Propagate and Grow
Lavatera

Lavatera are found in parts of America, Asia, Australia and the Mediterranean and are a species of perennials.

Leaves are palmate, grayish green and three to five lobed.

Flowers are white or a light rose colour with darker veins and similar to hollyhock in shape or open funnels and are borne in clusters.

These are long flowering gardening plants from summer right through to the end of autumn.

They are extremely fast growing producing new shoots almost daily.

Most are completely frost hardy.

Essential info

Genus: Lavatera

Family: Malvaceae

Species: L. trimestris

Common Names: Mallow.

Classification: Hardy annual.

Height: Up to around 90cm (36inches).

Flowering: From summer to early autumn.

Where to plant info

This is one of those must have gardening plants with pretty flowers, attractive leaves and have either a compact bushy habit or upright long stemmed.

Where: Ideal in herbaceous borders.

Site: Grow them in full sun, they thrive in it!

Soil: Any soil which is free draining.

Propagation info

By seed, March to May.

Preferred Propagation Method:

Seed sowing outdoors achieves best results.

SOWING TIME: - Outdoors March to May.

EQUIPMENT FOR THE JOB:

*USE ONLY CLEAN EQUIPMENT *(BY DOING THIS IT WILL INCREASE YOUR PROPAGATION SUCESS RATE)

TOOLS FOR THE JOB:

AS WITH ANY TOOLS - CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH THEIR USE - BE SAFE!

The area where you intend sowing your lavatera seeds should have been previously prepared. (Dug over and lightly fertilised at the end of the last season).

Make sure you remove all weeds and large stones.

Rake over the surface of the soil until you have a nice fine tilth.

Now you can scatter sow or sow your lavatera seeds in individual areas.

For scatter sowing just scatter your lavatera seeds where you want them to grow. Sow the seeds thinly and lightly cover them with soil using your rake.

For individual area sowing mark out the sowing area with your silver sand, from the plastic bottle, and thinly sow your lavatera seeds within the marked area.

All you have to do then is lightly cover your lavatera seeds with soil using your rake.

Whether scatter sowing or area sowing after lightly covering your seeds with soil make sure you label the area with plant type and sowing date.

And of course don't forget to carefully water the seeds in.

Use your watering can with a *fine rose, turned upside down, and gently water the areas you have sown. Do not flood the area or have the watering can too high, or your seeds will be washed away and uncovered.

*Take care with your watering.

*(By doing this correctly you will greatly increase your chance of success).

Aftercare

Thin your lavatera seedlings if grouped sown to allow about 10cm (4inch) between each plant.

If you want any further information on this plant or how to propagate and grow any of your favourite garden plants please feel free to contact us

Back to annuals main page to see how to propagate and grow more of your favourite annual gardening ( yard ) plants.

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