Sidalcea Little Princess

Sidalcea 'Little Princess', also known simply as Sidalcea, is a pretty cousin of mallows, rarely used in our gardens. However, it is a perennial of infinite delicacy, ideal in cottage gardens and romantic borders. Its light flowers, resembling small cups of pale pink mother-of-pearl, adorned with white or bluish highlights, form a tangle of remarkable freshness along upright stems above a shiny green basal foliage. Compact and floriferous, this variety is also perfect in pots on the terrace.

Sidalcea 'Little Princess' belongs to the Malvaceae family along with hollyhocks and marshmallows. Its ancestors lived in meadows and clearings in the northwestern United States. This short-lived herbaceous perennial reaches maturity in 2 to 5 years, and ensures its permanence through numerous spontaneous sowings. This horticultural variety stands out for its more compact habit and excellent floribundance. It blooms between June and August, in the form of solid, unbranched stems measuring 45 cm (18 in) in height, bearing numerous small flowers, 2 cm (1 in) wide, reminiscent of mallows, with 5 fringed petals, which have a silky texture and veined appearance. Their colour is perceived as pale pink, bluish-pink or white depending on the lighting and age of the flower. The basal foliage, which forms a wide clump of 45 cm (18 in), consists of large, toothed, dissected leaves, while the leaves of the stems are smaller and narrower. The foliage is a beautiful bright and shiny green.

Place this adorable and perfectly hardy perennial in the middle of flower beds, in the company of Japanese anemones, paniculate phlox, annual poppies, and perennial delphiniums to create a scene full of elegance and poetry. Its compact habit does not require staking. Sidalcea 'Little Princess' also thrives in a cool rockery, combined with forget-me-nots and lady's mantles; you can create refined bouquets with its cut flowers. It also grows very well in pots.