Growing Guide
 
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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.

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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 ½’ 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 ½’ 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.