Mallows are typical summer plants. They love the sun. In the warm season, they transform every garden into a small, colorful paradise with their blooms. Among the around 30 varieties into which the mallow family or the Malva genus can be divided in the meantime, there are some that also get along very well with the winter. They are hardy with restrictions. However, they still need a little protection against the cold
Are mallows hardy?
Mallows are an ornament for every garden. In the summer months they enchant with their large, colorful flowers. Basically, they have to have a rather sunny to semi-shady location. It should also be protected from wind and rain. Against this background, it is somewhat surprising that some varieties of this plant genus can also be hardy. In principle, however, it is probably better to say that they are winterproof. Without any protection, most of them would not survive ice and snow. After all, the plants can remain outdoors during the cold season and do not have to be overwintered separately. And the cost of the protective measures is also kept within very narrow limits.
notice: Generally only perennial mallow species are hardy. Logically, overwintering does not work for annuals that have to be sown every year.
Two very popular mallow plants that are often found in our gardens are also not winter hardy. These are the cup mallow and the musk mallow. Both have no chance in winter. They should therefore be best cultivated in a bucket and overwintered in a cool but frost-free room during the cold season.
Hardy mallows
Of the several thousand species and subspecies of mallow that can be found worldwide, around 30 have established themselves as ornamental plants in our gardens. Among those, on the other hand, there are some who cope more or less well with the winter. However, only five mallow plants can be classified as definitively hardy or winter-proof. These are:
tree mallow
The tree mallow (bot. Malva arborea) reaches a height of up to 1.5 meters and scores with its pink flowers. The flowering period is usually in the months of July, August and September. The plant absolutely needs a sunny, sheltered location and very permeable soil. If these conditions are met, it can remain in the garden soil in winter without any problems. Incidentally, it is not really suitable as a container plant.
bush mallow
In summer, the pink flowers of the bush mallow attract bees in particular, who take great pleasure in them. The flowering period extends from July to September. Bush mallows are extraordinarily lush and sprawling plants that can grow up to 1.5 meters tall. It absolutely needs a sunny location and very nutrient-rich soil. It can easily cope with temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius in winter.
flower mallow
This type of the genus Malva is in turn divided into various subspecies. Not all of these mallows are truly hardy. When buying, it is therefore advisable to pay attention to whether the plant has to be overwintered separately. The often found suffix "zimmerahorn" is a clear indication of this. The flower mallow (bot. Abutilon) prefers a light location and forms red, bell-shaped flowers. It can grow up to 2.5 meters tall and usually flowers from July to November.
Flowering Mallow, Abutilon
hollyhock
The hollyhock, also known as hollyhock, (bot. Alcea rosea) is one of those mallows that are often referred to by a completely different name. It is also often called hollyhock. The reason is because its appearance and growth is actually somewhat reminiscent of a rose on a stick. It usually flowers in pink from July to September and can reach a height of up to two meters. It prefers a very sunny, wind-protected location. Since the plants can easily break, they absolutely need a support.
Hollyhock, Alcea rosea
wild mallow
Wild mallow (bot. Malva sylvestris) is one of the oldest cultivated plants. It reaches a height of about 1.25 meters and forms pink-violet flowers. The plant typically flowers from May to September. The wild mallow also needs a sunny location that is as sheltered as possible from the wind. This basically winter-hardy mallow species is also often given one or the other trivial name. These include, for example, locust poplar, cat cheese or piss flower.
notice: Some varieties of mallow are commercially available as biennial ornamental shrubs. However, their service life is usually significantly longer than the specified two years.
protective measures
The mallow plants listed above are basically all hardy or winter-proof. With the possible exception of the bush mallow, they still need certain protective measures in order to really get through the cold season without any problems. This is especially true when the winter is particularly long or particularly icy. Protection against the cold is essential under these conditions. The mallow plants should be covered from the beginning of November. You can either cover the entire bush or concentrate entirely on the root area. The following materials are suitable for covering:
- straw mat
- garden tiles
- fir branches
- generally brushwood
- loose straw
- leaves
- humus
The material is laid loosely so that the plant is completely covered. Incidentally, a pleasant and very ecological side effect of this measure is that it creates an excellent habitat, in which, for example, hedgehogs can spend the winter wonderfully.
pruning
Opinions differ on whether mallows should be cut back before winter. A strong pruning can certainly strengthen the plant. However, the cut must then be made as far away as possible from the first snow or the first frost period, so that the plant has enough time to recover. September is recommended for this, after the flowering phase is over. Even if a pruning has taken place, protective measures are required.