Tree Mallow
Lavatera arborea
Family: Malvaceae
What it is like
A stout herb. It completes its life cycle over 2 years. It grows 1-3 m tall. The branches are woody. The leaf blade is kidney shaped. It is 7-20 cm long by 7-20 cm wide. There are 5-9 lobes. The edges of the leaf are irregular. There can be a flower at the end of a branch or 1-4 flowers in the axils of leaves. The flower is red-purple. They are 4-5 cm across. The fruit is a capsule. It is about 1 cm across.
There are about 25 Lavatera species.
Where it is found
It is a warm temperate plant. It grows easily in high rainfall areas. It grows on cliffs in western Europe in coastal regions. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. Tasmania Herbarium.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Australia, Britain (country/location of origin), China, Ecuador, Europe, France, Greece, Italy, Mediterranean, New Zealand, North Africa, Peru, Portugal, South America, Spain, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Yugoslavia
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
It can be grown from seed.
Its other names
Local names
Hua kui, Malva blanca, Puka malva