Mallow 'Zebra'
MALVA sylvestris 'Zebrina'Also known as Zebra Hollyhock, this charming cottage garden plant produces striped pink-lilac blooms with striking purple veining. Flowering from summer to autumn, it attracts pollinators and adds elegant height, colour, and movement to borders while thriving in sunny, well-drained positions.
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Mallow 'Zebra'
A classic cottage-garden favourite grown for its beautifully striped blooms and long flowering season. It produces upright, bushy plants with soft green, lobed foliage and masses of pale pink to lilac flowers, each marked with striking deep purple veins that create a distinctive “zebra” pattern.
Flowering from early summer through to autumn, it brings a soft, informal charm to borders and is excellent for attracting bees and other beneficial pollinators. Plants typically reach around 1–1.2m tall and may benefit from light staking in rich soils or exposed positions.
Often treated as a short-lived perennial or biennial, Zebrina mallow readily self-seeds, ensuring reliable returns year after year in the garden.
Sow seeds in spring or early autumn in Australia. For best germination, sow into trays or punnets using a free-draining seed-raising mix. Lightly cover seeds with soil (about 3–5 mm) and keep moist but not wet. Germination usually occurs in 10–21 days at 18–22°C. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, prick out and pot on. Harden off gradually before planting into the garden after the risk of frost has passed. Choose a sunny to part-shade position with well-drained soil enriched with compost. Space plants 40–60 cm apart to allow good airflow. Water regularly during establishment, then reduce as plants mature. Stake in exposed positions if needed. Deadhead to encourage prolonged flowering, or allow some seed heads to form for self-seeding. In cooler climates, it may behave as a biennial or short-lived perennial but will often self-sustain in the garden.
