Sphaeralcea ‘Childerley’

Potsize – 1L

Reminiscent of an erect small flowered mallow (Lavatera olbia), this small shrub has felty grey leaves making a bushy upright column about 75cm plus high, often reduced in cold winters. The stems are clustered with 5 petalled hollyhock-like flowers, the exact colour of ripe apricots, with a deep red stain at the base of each petal, from June to September. I had thought this only suitable for milder counties, but a customer has recently told me that his parents have kept this for the last 10 years in their Northumberland garden. As he suggests a requirement for  full sun, good drainage and a spot sheltered from the East wind is possibly more important.