Wax Mallow 'Big Mama' is a robust shrubby mallow hybrid that brings bold, showy blooms to gardens from July through October across zones 7 to 10. This cultivar combines the upright flowering habit of Malvaviscus drummondii with the dramatic 3-inch drooping blooms of Malvaviscus penduliflorus, creating a plant that reaches 4 to 6 feet tall and wide. Beyond its striking summer-to-fall display, it produces edible, colorful fruit and thrives in full sun to partial shade with only moderate water once established, making it exceptionally low-maintenance for gardeners seeking long-season color with minimal fuss.
Partial Sun
Moderate
7-10
72in H x 72in W
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High
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What distinguishes 'Big Mama' is its hybrid vigor and dual appeal: abundant showy flowers paired with ornamental, edible fruit that attracts birds, butterflies, and hummingbirds throughout the growing season. The plant grows substantially larger than its parent species while maintaining hardiness to zone 7, and it handles both drought and deer pressure with ease. Positioned in full sun, it becomes denser and more floriferous, rewarding gardeners with a tropical-looking shrub that feels lush but asks for remarkably little in return once it's established.
Wax Mallow 'Big Mama' serves primarily as a landscape ornamental, celebrated for its role in attracting pollinators and wildlife to the garden. The edible, showy fruit extends its utility beyond pure ornament; gardeners can enjoy the berries fresh or incorporate them into jams and beverages, though the plant is typically cultivated for its garden impact rather than commercial fruit production. Its deer and drought tolerance, combined with its ability to function as an annual in zone 7 and colder regions or as a hardy perennial in zones 8 to 10, makes it adaptable for mixed borders, pollinator gardens, and low-maintenance landscape schemes.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
The edible fruit can be harvested when ripe; monitor the plant throughout its blooming period from July through October as fruit develops and colors. Ripe fruit will be ready to pick once it has fully matured and developed its characteristic color.
Cut back stems after the plant enters fall dormancy to shape it and encourage fuller branching in the following growing season. Pruning in late fall or early winter supports renewal growth and helps maintain a compact form if space is limited.
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“'Big Mama' is the deliberate result of crossing two wild Malvaviscus species: Malvaviscus drummondii, known as Turk's cap, which produces upward-facing 2-inch flowers and survives zone 7 winters, with Malvaviscus penduliflorus, or giant Turk's cap, celebrated for its dramatic drooping 3-inch blooms. This hybridization strategy captured the cold hardiness of one parent with the flower size and drooping charm of the other, creating a cultivar with broader appeal to home gardeners in cooler regions where tropical mallows often fail. The result represents thoughtful breeding aimed at expanding the range of showy, pollinator-friendly plants available to northern gardeners.”