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Anisodontea capensis

Cape mallow

An upright sub-shrub with hairy stems and small, hairy, evergreen leaves. The flowers resemble a small hibiscus, ranging from pale pink to dark red-purple and appear in summer and autumn

Other common names
African mallow
false mallow
Synonyms
Malvastrum capense
Anisodontea × hypomadara misapplied

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

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H2
Botanical details
Family
Malvaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus

Anisodontea are evergreen, woody-based perennials and shrubs with simple or palmately-lobed leaves and saucer-shaped, five-petalled flowers borne in the leaf axils over a long period between summer and autumn

Name status

Correct

Plant range
South Africa (Cape)

How to grow

Cultivation

May survive outdoors in a sunny, sheltered spot in mild areas but normally grown in a cool greenhouse for summer bedding or as a patio plant. Needs good drainage and full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed in spring or by semi-ripe cuttings with bottom heat in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Patio and container plants
  • Mediterranean climate plants
Pruning

Pruning group 9, tip prune young plants to encourage bushiness

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly and aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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