Lavatera olbia Frederique - Tree Mallow

Lavatera 'Frederique' is a flowering and tall bushy lavatera. Its white flowers with pink centres, small in size but numerous, bloom incessantly from summer to autumn, appearing along its branches that form a lush and dense bush adorned with beautiful green-grey foliage. This more or less evergreen variety performs well during winter, in well-drained soil. Charming and radiant, it elegantly decorates the background of flower beds and can also be planted on its own, or in a pretty pot on the patio. Its flowers last well in a vase.

Lavateras belong to the large Malvaceae family. It is a genus that includes numerous species, some woody and others annual, biennial or perennial. They originate from various temperate regions around the world, but are mainly found in Mediterranean climates. Bushy lavateras are generally quite short-lived, living only 3 or 4 years, but they can easily be propagated by cuttings. 

'Frederique' is a bushy hybrid with branching growth from the base, which is dense and almost as wide as it is tall. The plant quickly reaches 1.80 m (6ft) in height and 1.50 m (5ft) in width, slightly less if severely pruned every year. This abundant and generous little bush produces flowers measuring 5 to 6 cm (2in) in diameter, composed of five petals that are quite spread apart and bilobed, heart-shaped, white, with a beautiful pink hue at the base. These flowers are short-lived but continuously bloom from July to August, or even longer under good growing conditions. The sterile plant does not exhaust itself by producing seeds, allowing it to bloom freely. The foliage, which is more or less evergreen, consists of palmately lobed, slightly velvety leaves, creating a very soft ensemble in a green-grey shade. This lavatera is hardy down to -12°/-15°C (5°F) in fertile, well-drained soil.

Lavatera 'Frederique' charms with its simplicity and generosity. Its charm does not overshadow that of the plants it accompanies, but rather enhances it. It looks beautiful in an informal hedge or in a bed of shrubs with summer flowering plants (Buddleia, Cotinus, Perovskia, Caryopteris). It also pairs well with the delicate foliage of Nandina domestica and its varieties, or with pink flowers and purple foliage. It thrives in full sun but can also tolerate partial shade, and is more long-lasting in well-drained soil. In the garden, its moderate growth allows it to be planted on its own, on a patio, or to mark an entrance, for example. It also forms magnificent background screens in flower beds and pairs well with roses. It combines well with perennial salvias, or with its cousins the hollyhocks and the common Mallow.