Sidalcea (Sidalcea malvaeflora)

Light:

Sun or very light shade

Flowering:

Summer. Deadhead for extended bloom.

Soil:

Any average soil

Height:

24 to 40 inches

Color:

Shades of pink

Hardiness:

Zone 4. Shows early in the spring.

Uses:

Excellent in borders. Cut flower.

Care:

Mulching will prevent leaf burn from late frosts. Prune after flowering to rejuvenate. Very attractive and delicate.

Native:

No

Comments:

Of all the member of the Malva family (and there are many), I consider this one of the best. It is delicate, well-behaved, and tends to be longer lived than many malvas. Sidalcea is sometimes called Miniature Hollyhock because of its similar, though shorter, spikes of pink flowers. It blooms early to midsummer at about 30 to 40 inches. Plants should be cut back after flowering to encourage a second flush of bloom and the new basal growth needed for overwintering.

Sidalcea enjoys a sunny or very lightly shaded site with well-drained but fertile soil. Division is needed only if the plants overgrow their space or die out in the middle. New plants or divisions should be spaced 12 to 18 inches apart.