Sidalcea 'My Love'

RHS Plant Profile

prairie mallow 'My Love'

RHS

Herbaceous Perennial

A deciduous, clump-forming perennial to 1.2m, with rounded basal leaves and feathery, divided stem leaves. In summer and early autumn, tall upright flower spikes bear a succession of pale-pink, cup-shaped flowers.

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Neutral or Acid

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Malvaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: 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

Grows best in light, sandy soil that is neutral to slightly acid and humus rich. Plants can be short-lived in heavy soils

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame in autumn or spring, or by division of large clumps in autumn or spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Prairie planting
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut stems back hard after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs

Diseases

May be susceptible to hollyhock rust