Cape Mallow

Resembling a delicate hibiscus, this South African native can hit 5 feet but has small, charming flowers with pretty colorations in pinks and whites, often with a yellow throat. And it's tougher than it looks. Though the flowers appear fragile, the plant is quite drought-tolerant. Like its relative, the hibiscus, you will often find it for sale in tree form, making a striking focal point for the garden or a standout for large containers. While it's grown as an annual in most areas, it is a perennial shrub in Zones 9-11.

Light:

Sun

Zones:

2-11

Plant Type:

Annual

Plant Height:

2-5 feet tall

Plant Width:

1-3 feet wide

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders

Special Features:

Flowers,Drought Tolerant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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'Elegant Lady' cape mallow

Anisodontea 'Elegant Lady' bears magenta-pink flowers all summer and fall and can grow to 5 feet tall.
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Slightly Strawberry cape mallow

Anisodontea 'Nuanilainp' is a drought-tolerant selection with pink flowers all summer. It grows best in cool-summer climates and reaches 3 feet tall and 18 inches wide. It can be grown as a perennial in Zones 9-11.
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Plant It With

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Dusty miller

Cape mallow's soft pink flowers look beautiful with a foil of silver, so combine the plant with dusty miller for a great combo.

Hibiscus

Using dark purple foliage is a great way to set this plant off, so try it with purple-leaf hibiscus varieties such as 'Maple Sugar' or 'Panama Red'.

Nasturtium

Upright-growing cape mallow is a thriller in containers; give it a skirt of trailing nasturtium as a great spiller.

Propagation

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Stem Cuttings