High mallow (Malva sylvestris 'Zebrina')
Discover Malva sylvestris 'Zebrina' (High mallow), offering showy pink blooms with deep burgundy stripes from June through September.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’, commonly known as High mallow, is a highly valued upright plant celebrated for its striking bi-colored flowers. This cultivar features 2-inch wide blooms splashed with vibrant pink overlaid with noticeable burgundy-red venation, making it a superb vertical accent in the summer perennial border. As an herbaceous perennial, it provides reliable color, though it is often treated as an annual or biennial due to its tendency to drop seed freely.
Gardeners appreciate the vigorous nature of High mallow, which easily establishes itself in average garden settings. It thrives in full sun, where flower color intensity is maximized, though it tolerates partial shade. Its sturdy structure and impressive height of up to four feet allow it to integrate beautifully into cottage-style plantings or as a backdrop feature.
Although related to hibiscus, High mallow exhibits a more delicate appearance, culminating in unique, disc-shaped fruits often referred to as “cheesewheels.” Planting Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’ brings reliable summer structure and unmistakable striped color to borders and informal garden spaces, requiring only medium attention once established.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Malvaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-7
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 2-4 ft
- Spread: 1-2 ft
- Bloom Time: June to September
- Bloom Description: Pink with burgundy-red venation
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
For best results, plant Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’ where it will receive full sun, though partial shade is tolerated. This plant demonstrates flexibility, growing easily in medium moisture, well-drained soils typical of many garden sites. When grown from seed, the plant establishes quickly and has a strong tendency to self-seed, potentially leading to a perennial presence even if planted only as an annual or short-lived biennial.
Watering requirements are medium; ensure the soil stays consistently moist during establishment, gradually reducing heavy watering once the plant matures unless drought conditions prevail. Fertilization is generally unnecessary, as High mallow adapts well to average fertility. Pruning primarily involves deadheading spent blooms if you wish to limit self-seeding, or cutting back the entire plant at the end of the season.
If you are aiming for a controlled population, promptly remove flower heads before they mature into their characteristic cheese-wheel fruits. In late fall or early spring, clear away spent foliage. If blooms seem sparse or the plant becomes leggy by mid-summer, a light shearing can encourage a fresh flush of new growth and subsequent flowering.
Landscape Uses
The vertical habit and bright, distinctive flowers make Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’ inherently suited for borders, providing essential mid-to-back-of-border height without excessive width. It excels within a traditional cottage garden design, mixing well with established companions like Shasta Daisies, Foxglove, or Ornamental Grasses that share similar sun and moisture requirements.
Consider using High mallow within wildflower meadows where its ability to self-seed becomes an advantage rather than a minor maintenance concern. While it will grow well in the ground, ensure containers used for Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’ are deep enough to support its roots, and placed where its height won’t overwhelm smaller surrounding plants.
The visual impact of the striped pink flowers creates excellent contrast against cool blues or deep purples. Utilize this upright perennial wherever you need a burst of summer color that appears informal and somewhat wild, echoing its origins as a naturalized species.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Malva sylvestris, commonly known as common mallow but also known as wood mallow, tree mallow and high mallow, is native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa. It is similar in appearance to the genera Hibiscus and Alcea. Stems typically rise to 2-4’ tall clad with rounded to kidney-shaped, rough-hairy, basal leaves each having 3-7 shallow lobes. ‘Zebrina’ features 2” wide, pink blooms with contrasting, burgundy-red venation that bloom throughout the summer.
Tolerances
- No serious insect or disease problems.
Potential Problems
The primary issue gardeners encounter with High mallow is the development of rust, a fungal disease that frequently appears as the summer progresses. Rust manifests as rusty-colored pustules, usually on the underside of the leaves, which can eventually affect the plant’s vigor.
To minimize the risk of rust on your Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’, ensure good air circulation around the plants by avoiding overly dense groupings when planting. Water the soil directly rather than overhead, especially later in the day, as prolonged leaf wetness promotes fungal growth. If rust develops, promptly remove and discard the affected foliage to stop the spread.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is High mallow suitable for?
Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’ is generally suited for USDA Zones 5 through 7.
How large does Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’ grow?
This plant typically reaches a height between 2 and 4 feet, with a spread generally ranging from 1 to 2 feet wide.
When does High mallow bloom?
You can expect blooms on High mallow from June well into September, displaying its characteristic pink flowers with dark burgundy-red venation.
What sun exposure does Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’ need?
For the best flower color intensity, the plant performs optimally in full sun, though it can adapt to areas receiving part sun.
Conclusion
Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’ offers extraordinary value through its easygoing culture and reliably showy, striped summer flowers, fulfilling the requirement for vertical interest in many garden styles. By checking your local hardiness zone compatibility (Zones 5-7) and providing well-drained soil, you can successfully incorporate the bright hues of High mallow into your landscape this season.
Companion Planting
When designing borders for High mallow, consider companions that share its medium-water needs and tolerate its height. Plants with fine textures, like certain ornamental grasses (e.g., Miscanthus cultivars), provide a lovely counterpoint to the large, roundish leaves of the mallow. Silver-leaved foliage plants, such as Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears), also complement the pink and burgundy tones beautifully while resisting rust issues.
For a truly integrated cottage look, pair Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’ with other sturdy mid-summer bloomers like Achillea (Yarrow) or hardy Geraniums. These companions thrive in similar conditions and help cover the base of the taller mallow stems as the season progresses, maintaining a tidy aesthetic throughout the blooming period.
Propagation Tips
Since High mallow readily self-seeds, maintaining the specific ‘Zebrina’ cultivar year after year is usually effortless. Allow some flowers to mature into the distinctive fruit capsules—the “cheesewheels”—and let them dry on the plant before harvesting the seeds. These seeds germinate easily when sown directly outdoors in spring or started indoors several weeks prior.
For intentional propagation that guarantees the ‘Zebrina’ characteristics, division is rarely necessary as this plant is short-lived and prefers to reseed. If you must propagate vegetatively, soft stem cuttings taken in early summer can be rooted under mist, though this method is less common for this robust, easy-to-start seed-grown species.
