Plant tree mallow after frost. Set the nursery pot at the same depth it grew, and give the shrub about 3 to 4 feet.
Plant after frost, at the same depth as the pot
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | After the last frost, once the soil can be worked | Planting into frozen or waterlogged ground |
| Depth | Crown at nursery-pot level | Sinking the crown below grade |
| Hole | Twice as wide as the root ball, same depth as the pot | A tight hole in unimproved wet clay |
| Spacing | About 3 to 4 feet so the shrub can fill | A packed ribbon with no air between crowns |
Wait until frost is done to set a potted shrub. [1] Dig a hole at least twice as wide as the root ball, and keep the crown at the same depth it sat in the pot. [2]
When should I plant tree mallow?
After the last frost, once the soil can be worked. Spring gives the growing season ahead of the plant.
How to plant tree mallow
Work one hole at a time: loosen well-drained ground, set the pot, then water to settle.
- Confirm Lavatera — not hollyhock (Alcea), marshmallow, or annual packet mallow.
- Dig a hole as deep as the pot and about twice as wide. On heavy ground, mix grit into the backfill so water can move.
- Set the crown level with the soil. Do not plant deeper. [3]
- Backfill, firm, and water once to settle. Space shrubs about 3 to 4 feet apart. [4]
How deep do I plant tree mallow?
The nursery plant sits with the crown at soil level — the same depth it grew in the pot, not buried.
Space the plants — and what fails
Give each shrub about 3 to 4 feet so stems can fill and air can move. Crowding plus a wet crown is the usual rot setup.
How far apart do I plant tree mallow?
About 3 to 4 feet. Hybrid shrubs want room to reach several feet across; packed plants flop and rot sooner.
- Planted before frost — the crown stalls or rots in cold soil.
- Crown sunk below grade — rot in wet spells.
- Packed tighter than 3 feet — no air, and a short life gets shorter.
- Planted into a waterlogged clay bowl — the shrub fails in the first wet winter.
If a new shrub never took, wait for frost-free soil and plant the next pot at the same depth it grew, on ground that drains.
FAQ
Can I grow tree mallow from seed or cuttings?
Buy a potted shrub for the named kinds here. Annual seed packets labeled tree mallow are usually a different plant. Softwood cuttings can root, but a nursery pot is the reliable home start.
Why did the new plants fail?
Usually a late frost, a crown planted too deep, or wet ground. Reset after frost on soil that drains, with the crown at pot depth.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Harvest to Table -
https://harvesttotable.com/how-to-grow-tree-mallow-lavatera/ - [2] Royal Horticultural Society -
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/lavatera/growing-guide - [3] Gardenia.net -
https://www.gardenia.net/plant/lavatera-x-clementii-rosea-tree-mallow - [4] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/malva-trimestris/
This note is part of Lavatera Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors