Globe Mallow. Fun and easy to grow perennial that behaves like a sub-shrub. Semi woody wands of very silvery small maple shaped leaves wave to 3′ tall. Lining these silver stems are bowl shaped hot pink flowers. They begin as early as late May and continue unabated for months. As time goes on this perennial for dry, hot locations with good drainage becomes a showy hot pink mass of blooms. Excellent on hot slopes with light but consistent summer water. Very drought adapted but light water appears to improve the performance. Loved by bees, butterflies and other pollinators. By autumn this 3′ x 3′ shrub should be left intact to over winter. In spring when new growth is breaking from the base it may be cut back hard and recovery to bloom is rapid with the onset of warmer weather. Cold hardier if given very good drainage. As far as I can surmise it will take temperatures down to about 10ºF. A selection or possible hybrid from two southwestern globe mallows.
Plant Type: Sub-shrub
Sub-shrubs are best thought of as woody perennials that can freeze to the ground in winter and regrow from the base in spring. Hardy Fuchsias and Abutilons are two examples of commonly grown sub-shrubs in our climate. The harshness of winter determines how sub-shrubs behave. In colder than normal winters (below 20ºF) they will likely freeze way back or to the ground. Mild winters may see no dieback at all. Refrain from cutting these back until you see new growth emerge- then you’ll know what to remove. Also, if an Abutilon has frozen back (and it will look awful and dead) simply water and water and water well into summer and the recovery that emerges is stunning. A little handful of all organic fertilizer in spring feeds recovery as well. For lightly tender sub-shrubs (zone 8a) and warmer it benefits these plants if they are planted deeply. Sink the crown of the plant 3″ below the soil level and mulch. This adds cold tolerance. Often slightly tender subshrubs will gain hardiness with age when treated this way.
Climate Adapted Plants for Gardeners in the PNW
Sphaeralcea incana
We’ve been impressed with the performance of this striking very upright globe mallow. Spikes clad in soft orange flowers appear continuously for months in summer. To 4′ tall ultimately this forms a semi-woody clump to 2′ wide. Full, HOT sun and WELL DRAINED soil with light summer water. Freezes back in winter almost to the ground and vigorously resprouts for the base and grows quickly when hot weather arrives. Excellent on slopes, hot gravel gardens. Not bothered by rust or other diseases that can afflict mallows. Mulch lightly for the first winter for added protection. Stunning in bloom and carefree once established. Cut back dead top growth in mid-spring. Some deer resistance. Takes blasting reflected heat well. SW native plant.
A stylish shrub/subshrub that is native to the drier parts of New Zealand, and offers great fine texture. The stems which are the only thing that differentiates this from the genus Coprosma- they are square. are golden orange woody stems that rise up to about 4′ tall by 3′ wide. Tiny round green leaves decorate these stems and in late spring and early summer small white flowers appear in the leaf axils. This plant can quickly return from the roots if chopped back severely or frozen to the ground. Established plants can regain their stature in several months. Average to enriched soil that is never boggy in summer. The fine foliage common adaptation in New Zealand, most likely the fine texture of the shrub was to foil grazing giant moa birds and other predators. Very good in containers ( it will be less hardy in a container as with everything) and it can be crowded heavily and still thrive. In the ground give it enriched soil and regular summer water for its first season. Let it grow as much as possible and develop a resilient root system- in the case of an arctic event it will be well prepared to regrow.. Mulch in fall for the first year. The luminous stems and see through appearance make it combine well with bolder textured plants. Regiar water in summer speeds growth and establishment the first year, in subsequent years it only requires irrigation once every two weeks. Freezes the ground at about 20ºF, returns quickly in spring when the soil warms. Not bothered by deer, not sure about rabbits. Excellent architectural plant. We took a break from growing this plant for years, we’re happy that its back.
Tibouchina urvilleana
Princess flower is a tender shrub that becomes a rapturous cloud of velvet purple flowers for all of summer. Three inch wide flowers have the wonderful backdrop of velveteen clad deep green leaves. To 4′ x 4′ in a seasonal container. Full sun to very light shade and rich soil with regular water. Appreciates a handful of all organic fertilizer halfway through the season. Over winter containerized plants in an unheated garage. Cut back hard, fertilize and place outside when all danger of a freeze has passed. In very protected gardens near the beach this shrub may be grown in the ground. To 8′ tall x 4′ wide. Freezes back below 27ºF and is root hardy to the low 20ºs. Mulch in autumn. Princess flower hails from the mountains of Brazil.
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