After we had the heavy rains in December, my mallow just seemed to stop thriving. This photo was taken today. Note that this year the seedlings started growing.
Part one of my pruning is evident in the photo. Part two will occur after the trash is picked up. I do hope my mallow can make a comeback.
I have collected the seeds from the cut branches.
I wrote back,
You have really well-draining soil, if I recall correctly. However, you may want to transplant a seedling or two to a slight mound that will provide better water shedding from the trunk in case that is the problem.
If you follow the label link to Margaret's mallow you'll see that this was an early 2009 transplant from a 1 gallon pot, so it's had a two+ year run. Maybe that's all you get from Lavatera assurgentiflora. The main native plant web sites that I surveyed didn't call out a specific life expectancy, but this web site says that it is short-lived:
http://www.gardenguides.com/taxonomy/island-mallow-lavatera-assurgentiflora/
so perhaps it's run its course.
Back to my blog vacation. See ya.
I planted two about a year ago. I have clay soil. One did not thrive, and after all the heavy rains, it gave up. The other grew tall and wide, and keeps changing its mind about which way it will lean. But it's been blooming consistently since the summer.
ReplyDeleteKaren,
ReplyDeleteI think mine is trying to decide whether or not to give up. The bush is bare, except for flowers on most tips.