Rose Mallow
Where to buy seeds
Some links are affiliate links — Verdantly may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more.
Rose Mallow Lavatera is a vigorous annual flower that transforms gardens with abundant, delicate blooms in just 60 to 70 days. This non-GMO Lavatera trimestris variety produces robust shrubby plants reaching 24 to 48 inches tall, crowned with spectacular open cup-shaped flowers in shades of white, creamy pink, blush, and rose, each bloom stretching 3 to 4 inches across. Hardy in zones 4 through 9 and thriving in full sun, it's a frost-tolerant performer that shines even in cool gardens where other flowers hesitate to bloom. The plant matures quickly enough for reliable color from early summer onward, filling beds and borders with its characteristic charm when the season demands brightness most.
Full Sun
Moderate
4-9
48in H x ?in W
Annual
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Rose Mallow Lavatera blooms arrive remarkably early, flowering prolifically within two months of planting, which means you can enjoy 3- to 4-inch cup-shaped blossoms from midsummer straight through frost. The color palette is sophisticated and restrained; unlike many flashy annuals, it offers soft whites, creamy pinks, and warm rose tones that blend seamlessly into cottage gardens and naturalistic plantings. Its vigorous, bushy growth habit fills space fast without requiring deadheading to keep flowering, making it refreshingly low-maintenance compared to fussier bloomers.
Rose Mallow Lavatera is grown as an ornamental flowering annual for garden beds, borders, and mixed plantings. Its abundant blooms make it suitable for fresh cutting, providing stems of delicate flowers for indoor arrangements throughout the summer and early fall months.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date in your region, spacing plants 24 inches apart. Harden off transplants gradually to full sun before planting.
Direct sow seeds in the garden bed after the last frost date, placing them where plants will grow in full sun.
Cut flowers in the early morning when blooms have just fully opened, using sharp scissors or pruners to cleanly sever stems at a 45-degree angle. Harvest regularly to encourage continued flowering throughout the season. Blooms last approximately 3 to 5 days in a vase when placed in fresh water.
Rose Mallow Lavatera requires minimal pruning due to its naturally compact, bushy growth habit. Deadheading spent flowers is optional; the plant continues flowering prolifically without it. Pinching back young plants when 4 to 6 inches tall encourages bushier growth and more abundant blooms.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.