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Herbaceous Perennial

Sidalcea 'William Smith'
  • RHS AGM
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

prairie mallow 'William Smith'

An erect herbaceous perennial making a clump to 90cm in height, with rounded basal leaves and deeply lobed stem leaves. Flowers 5cm in width, with five salmon tinted, deep rose-pink petals

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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Pink Green
Autumn
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Malvaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus

Sidalcea can be annuals or perennials, forming a clump of rounded or palmately lobed basal leaves, with erect stems bearing more deeply divided leaves and terminal racemes of 5-petalled mallow-like flowers

Name status

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Best grown in moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained, light, sandy, neutral to slightly acid soil in full sun; will tolerate other soils but resents waterlogging. Provide a dry mulch of bracken or straw during cold winters

Propagation

Propagate by division in autumn or spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Prairie planting
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Cut stems back hard after flowering to encourage further flowers and to prevent self-seeding

Pests

Slugs may be a problem

Diseases

May be susceptible to a rust

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