Malva moschata alba

Malva moschata var Alba

Good doers. I remember the late, great Iris Thompson talking about horses that did very well with very little attention and not too much food - she called them Good - doers. I rather liked the expression and adopted it for my own. She was talking about horses, of course - I tend to talk about plants (you may have noticed!). One of my favourite Good - doers is Malva moschata var alba. This is a hardy herbaceous perennial, cousin to the well-known shrub Lavatera (and other members of the Malvaceae, also known as the Mallows). It is one of those really useful plants that you dot around in a border to fill any gaps now that the Spring bulbs and early perennials are going over.

Malva moschata v alba slightly sprawling habit

Like many of the Mallows it likes dampish ground, and so is perfect for those of us who have to contend with high rainfall. In Cumbria it grows to about 60 x 60cms in size, and has deep green ferny foliage, with slightly crinkled, ice white flowers, with what appears to be a pink eye. This 'eye' is really the stigmas – they give it a really pretty appearance. The habit is what I would describe as slightly sprawling, which I find quite romantic in the Cottage Garden type of idiom, but it would not suit those who like plants to stand to attention in neat regimented lines. They also look good growing as 'fill' plants between shrubs such as dwarf azaleas, which give them support - it gives your shrub borders a bit of interest when the Spring flowering is over. Bees love them, so I assume they are fairly nectar heavy.

Maintenance is easy. As I said previously they prefer dampish ground, and need some sunshine to flower well. Dead head regularly to maintain flowering and cut back the dying stems in the late Autumn. Mark their position in the border as they tend to disappear completely over winter. In the late Spring when they re-emerge, give them a general feed or a compost mulch and they will happily grow away again with no fuss at all. As I said before - a good doer!

We usually have a few to spare, so if you want one or two, get in touch. Alternatively they are fairly easy to grow from seed. Seed suppliers are listed below.

Happy Gardening!

The RHS Award of Garden Merit has been awarded to Malva moschata v alba

Seed suppliers:

Chiltern seeds

Plant world seeds

Wildlife and gardening

 

Fallow deer in the south garden

It's one of those yin yang things, wildlife in your garden. I love birds, bees, butterflies and even quite a lot of weeds - well - the pretty ones anyway! We were honoured by a visit from a Fallow deer on Sunday. We've had Roe deer on a fairly regular basis whilst we've lived here, but a Fallow deer, that's a wildlife superstar in these parts! It was raining so I'm afraid the picture taken form the bedroom window is a bit blurry, but there he is, in all his dappled glory. We've called him Spot - not very original I know, but at least we'll remember it. On his left rear haunch, he has a pattern of spots that look something like a V and a D. We'll be able to identify him if he calls again. One Roe deer looks pretty much like another, so we've never been able to tell whether we have returnees or not.

    So what's this got to do with plants, you may ask? Technically, from a gardener's point of view, deer are pests in the same league as slugs and snails. They are delighted to chew off the best best blooms on your camellias, or lilies, narcissi etc. (sheep will too, but I digress); they will sample the flowers on that rare plant you have paid a small fortune for, and if they like it, they are quite likely to finish the whole thing off. So, do I go out and shoo them off? No, I don't! I may curse and swear a bit, but the privelege of having such beautiful creatures visit your garden, offsets the temporary losses (I try to propagate duplicates before putting them in the vulnerable areas of the garden).

Iris chrysographes

This week the Iris chrysographes  from the Doshong La in South East Tibet is coming into bloom (? see picture. We were told this was Iris chrysographes, but I'm not entirely convinced - it's a very good plant though - absolutely rock hardy) It looks particularly good set alongside the Primula alpicola I mentioned in my last blog. On our trip in 1995 we didn't find them together, though may well grow near each other in other areas. They were growing in similar conditions - damp meadows in partial shade, but were separated by the mighty Tsangpo river. Crossing the Tsangpo on a rather ancient ferry made from logs strapped together, is not an experience I am likely to forget, ever! However, it makes the plant I associate from that particular trip very vivid in my memory. Memories of the return trip in 1997 are much more hazy!

My plant of the week? Malva moschata alba AGM

Malva moschata alba

This is a native plant apparently, though I've never seen it in the wild! I grow it as a border filler, where it enjoys the support of other more robust plants. It flowers most of the summer months, and what flowers! Pristine snow white flowers about 4 cms in diameter, but it is the pale pink centre that I love. Looking at me, you would be forgiven for thinking that's a bit 'girlie' for a no-nonsense, matter-of-fact, get-on-with-the job, type like me. But yes, I really like pretty/beautiful things. Life is dull enough - you have to grab the really nice bits and hang on to them with all your might, whether it be a flower, a piece of music, or a wonderful view - whatever. Treasure the little perfections of life!
Getting back to the plants - it's fairly unfussy - likes a bit of moisture in the soil, and a bit of sunshine now and again. Height about two feet (60 cms) width about 1 and half feet (45 cms). Plant and enjoy!
(Tip - Any pant with the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a fairly good bet, providing you get the growing conditions right!)

24/03/2023 Update. We no longer live at this house anymore (too old and too too decrepit to keep a very large garden up), but I've imported this post because it brings back happy memories. The plants are still brilliant even though we don't sell them anymore.

Happy gardening! B