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Prairie Mallow

Herbaceous Perennial Flower, Wildflower

Also known as Miniature Hollyhock, False Mallow
Sidalcea malviflora
Malvaceae Family

These 2- to 4-foot-tall perennials bear showy spikes of 2-inch-wide blooms in shades from pale pink to bright rosy purple. Great cottage-garden plant that has the look Hollyhocks, but not the dominating height or aggressive self-seeding.

	Site and Plant Characteristics
	Growing Information
	Varieties

Site Characteristics

Sunlight:

full sun

Soil conditions:

requires well-drained soil

Hardiness zones:

5 to 9

Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 2 to 4 feet

Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet

Bloom time:

mid-summer
late summer

Flower color:

red
violet
white
pink

Native plants are pale purple-pink. Newer hybrids come in shades of white, pink, red, and purple.

Foliage color:

medium green
dark green

Foliage texture: medium

The basal leaves are rounded and only slightly lobed. Non-basal leaves are more deeply lobed.

Shape: upright

Shape in flower: flower stalks with upright spikes

Flowers borne along erect stems.

Special Considerations

Special characteristics:

non-aggressive
non-invasive
native to North America - Western United States

Special uses:

cut flowers
wildflowers

Growing Information

How to plant:

Propagate by division or separation - Most of the prairie mallows grown today are hybrids, and these do not come true from seeds. Propagate from division in the spring.

Maintenance and care:

Deadhead to encourage continued bloom. May require staking.
More growing information: How to Grow Perennials

Pests:

Japanese beetles

Varieties

�Brilliant�: 2 �� tall plants with rosy red blooms.
�Croftway Red�: 3� tall plants with red flowers.
�Elsie Heugh�: 3 � tall plants with pale pink blooms. Flowers have fringed margins.
�Jimmy Whittet�: 4� tall plants with purple-pink blooms.
�Loveliness�: 2 to 3� tall plants with shell pink blooms. Very sturdy, strong stems.
�Mrs. Alderson�: 4� tall plants with rose-colored blooms.
�Mr. Lindbergh�: 2� tall plants with rose-red blooms.
�Nimmerdor�: 6� tall giants with deep pink blooms.
�Oberon�: 2 �� tall plants with deep rosy pink blooms.
�Puck�: dwarf 2� tall plants with soft pink blooms.
�Rose Queen�: 4� tall plants with rosy blooms.
�Stark�s Hybrid�s�: a mix of 2 to 3� tall plants with blooms in shades from pale pink to deep purple-pink.
�Sussex Beauty�: 3 to 4� tall plants with showy, bright pink blooms.
�William Smith�: salmon-colored blooms on 3� tall plants.