Lavatera cachemeriana

KASHMIR MALLOW

No WA

Lavatera cachemiriana
KASHMIR MALLOW

Lavatera cachemeriana is rated the toughest of a tough family, but happens to be also very pretty and garden worthy.
Not permitted for entry to WA

Pretty pink propeller flowers

Blooms of the Kashmir Mallow are the prettiest pinks, with buds of deeper pink, opening to blush pink, and paleing to soft pink as they mature.
Each flower is shaped like a 5 petalled propellor.

Blooms by the hundreds per bush

Once established, Lavatera cachemiriana is a flowering machine.
Each bush produces hundreds of flowers over a long blooming season.

Flocks of flowers summer & autumn

Blooming begins each year around Christmas, and continues right on into late autumn.

Sturdy strong bush for backgrounds or feature

Lavatera cachemiriana is a perfect background or feature bush, especially given its prolific, long blooming.
It grows approx. 1.2 – 1.6 metres tall (but in good going it can even make 2.4 metres), and makes a rounded, column shape 75 to 90cm. wide approx.

Clothed in pretty & furry maple-shaped leaves

Foliage is also an attractive asset for the bush, as it is densely clothed in broad, maple shaped leaves, covered in fuzzy fur.

Tough & hardy as old boots

Kashmir Mallow is actually as tough and hardy as old boots.
It has always been a popular, easy to grow, low maintenance, old favourite cottage perennial. Because of its beauty, tough constitution and impressive height.

Self supporting column & not prone to blowing over

Despite its majestic stature, Lavatera cachemiriana is sturdy and self supporting, with a mass of strong stems forming a broad column shape, densely covered in flowers and foliage.

Ideal for coastal, windy & exposed gardens

Even in windy, coastal and exposed sites it does not generally need any staking, and grows as a tall column shape. It is tolerant of salt laden winds and sandy soils.

Heat & frost hardy (humidity too)

As a native of northern India, Pakistan and further afield, Lavatera cachemiriana is able to cope with both hot summers and cold winters.
It is frost hardy down to approx. -20°C. and then can tolerate summer heat and humidity too.

Tolerates a wide range of soils

Lavatera cachemiriana is best grown in soil that is not too rich or too wet.
It is happy in many soil types, from sandy to clay based, as long as it is well-drained and never boggy.

Water-wise plant

Kashmir Mallow is also a water-wise plant, requiring only low to average garden watering to thrive.
And it has quite good drought resistance once established.

Thrives in full sun

Preferably plant Lavatera cachemiriana in full sun, though it can tolerate a little shade for part of the day, as long as it is not wet.

Edible flowers & foliage

Both the flowers and fresh young foliage have been used raw and cooked in traditional regional cuisine.
The petals are very pretty as edible garnish or in salads.

Traditional medicine

Kashmir Mallow has long been used in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory, a laxative, and antioxidant. Modern research seems to support the traditional uses.

Nectar feast for bees & pollinators 

The nectar rich blooms haul the useful pollinators into your garden, and keep them there with such a long blooming season through summer and autumn.

Rabbit & deer resistant

Though Lavatera cachemiriana is not tasty for rabbits and deer, and blissfully carefree to grow – as it is untroubled by pests and diseases.
As long as it is planted in full sun, or just a little shade (it will become lanky in too much shade).

Care free & low maintenance

While Lavatera cachemiriana can survive quite nicely without any help from a brown-thumbed gardener.
It will repay a chop back of spent flower stems over winter.
Cut it back hard to ground in winter to make room for wonderful new growth in spring and another year of abundant flowers and pretty foliage.

Hardy & very tall perennial

Lavatera cachemiriana is a hardy, long-lived perennial.
Growing 1.2 – 1.6 metres tall (or even up 2.4 metres in good conditions), and makes a rounded, column shape 75 to 90cm. wide approx.
Cut it back to the round each winter.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Seeds of Lavatera cachemiriana can be sown at any time indoors when suitable temperatures can be provided (18-22°C).
OR
Scattered directly in the garden in autumn, late winter or early spring, to take advantage of winter cold.

Tips for improving germination rates & speed:
1. Before sowing – gently rub the seeds between 2 sheets to fine sandpaper to abrade the seed a little, to allow moisture to be taken up more quickly.
Because seeds of Lavatera cachemeriana have a hard casing, which makes it difficult for moisture to penetrate. This can slow down germination.

2. After the sandpaper rub – Soak the seeds overnight in warm water that has been previously boiled. This allows the seeds to take moisture on board before sowing.

Sow Indoors for early plants: Sow the seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Now gently pat the seeds to the surface to ensure good contact.
Then barely cover with sieved mix / fine vermiculite or fine sandy grit – because these seeds need light to germinate.
So not cover deeply.

Now thoroughly moisten the sown punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath.
And allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.

Seeds like warmth to germinate

Then place punnet in a warm, well-lit position (not in any direct sunlight as this will dry the seeds out).

Temperatures of 18-22°C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.
You can use a heat mat if you have one to maintain warmth.

Continue to keep the punnet consistently moist by misting regularly from a spray water-bottle.
Placing a plastic lid or bag over the sown punnet will help to maintain consistent moisture.
Lavatera seeds resent drying out so consistent moisture level greatly helps.

Seedlings usually begin to emerge in approx. 7-21 days.

However if seeds are shy to germinate – then moisten the punnet, wrap in cling wrap and place in the fridge (not freezer) for 2-4 weeks. This will mimic the action of winter and encourage the seeds to sprout once they return warmth.

Scatter seeds directly in the garden:
Scatter in a full sun position in soil that drains well and rake in gently.|
Continue to keep consistently moist for germination.

Seed Count: 12 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

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