Malva 'Zebrina'

Few plants offer the long-lasting rewards of this heirloom Hollyhock Mallow! Not only is it floriferous over a very long season, but it self-sows, replenishing itself year after year in your sunny border. Beautiful pinwheel blooms in two shades of purple are breathtaking, and butterflies visit them regularly. Who could possibly ask for more?

Zebrina has graced cottage gardens for many years, and it's easy to see why. The 2-inch single blooms begin opening in midsummer in most climates, and continue right into fall, often continuing for 4 months or more. A soft shade of lavender, they are heavily veined with maroon-violet, creating a stripey, pinwheeled look that is just a little different on every bloom. Striking!

Butterflies and hummingbirds pay their respects to these blooms on a daily basis, but rabbits tend to leave the plant un-nibbled, which is a surprise and a pleasure. The flowering stalks are about 2½ feet high on compact, mounding plants that can reach 3 to 4 feet tall but just 18 to 24 inches wide. Zebrina is a good choice for the middle or back of the sunny border, where its dark green foliage serves as background for shorter plants, and its absolute MASSES of blooms can stand out brilliantly.

M. sylvestris is a rather short-lived perennial, but Zebrina has solved this problem by coming true from seed. Just let the the last blooms remain on the plant each fall, and in spring you'll see new little sprouts everywhere. Such a marvelous gift from a plant that will become your favorite the very first season you grow it!

Best of all, Zebrina is much more tolerant of hot weather than most Hollyhock Mallows, and demonstrates excellent resistance to disease. It grows readily in full sun and nearly any type of soil. Your sunny garden (not to mention your vases!) deserves this plant! Zones 4-8.

• Butterflies like a lot of sunlight, so locate your garden in a sunny area.
• If you live in a windy location, plant your butterfly-attracting plants near a building, fence, or hedge to protect them.
• Plant a variety of nectar-rich plants, as well as shrubs and evergreens for shelter.
• Since many butterflies and native flowering plants have co-evolved, try to put in some that are native to your area. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center provides lists of plants native to states and regions.
• Certain colors are particularly attracting to butterflies – red, yellow, pink, purple, or orange blooms that are clustered or flat-topped, with a short flower tubes are especially attractive to adult butterflies.
• Avoid using pesticides, especially around nectar-producing plants.
• Provide a shallow source of water – try a birdbath with pebbles lining the bowl.
• Place a rock in a sunny spot for butterfly basking and resting.
• Create a "puddling area" by digging a shallow hole filled with compost or manure where rainwater will collect and release essential salts and minerals.
• If you want butterflies to breed in your garden, put in some caterpillar food plants, such as parsley, milkweeds, asters, thistles, violets, clover, grasses, and Queen Anne’s Lace.
• Since butterflies need nectar throughout the entire adult phase of their lives, try to create a design that will allow for a continuous bloom – when one stops blooming, another starts.

Malva moschata and sylvestris
Mallow

Planting:

Set plants, 2 feet apart in full sun to light shade and a well-drained soil.

Maintenance:

Keep well- watered during the summer growing season.

Zones:

Zones 4-8

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Since its founding in 1920, Wayside Gardens has brought the rarest and highest-quality plants to the garden market. Wayside was founded in 1920 by two acclaimed growers who came together to pursue their shared vision of marketing all high-end plants for the serious garden enthusiast. Originally located in Mentor, Ohio, Wayside Gardens swiftly grew a reputation for the highest-quality plants and the most sophisticated clientele. In 1975, Wayside was purchased by the Park Seed Company, and moved to Hodges, SC.  The company has flourished since then, growing to become an undisputed leader in rare and unique plant growing.

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