Small pink flowers with a red centre open against evergreen foliage on a shrub reaching 5 feet. Cape mallow (Anisodontea capensis) blooms generously over an extended portion of the year and takes happily to pots on balconies and terraces; give it full sun and frost-free shelter and it can flower almost all year.
| Name | Anisodontea |
|---|---|
| Family | Malvaceae (mallow family) |
| Type | perennial shrub |
| Height | 5 feet (1.5 m) |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Soil | well-drained |
| Foliage | evergreen |
| Flowering | mid-spring → mid-fall |
It deserves a prominent spot in gardens or potted on balconies and terraces.
It is best to plant them in the spring, after the last freezing.
For plants purchased with their roots bare, planting is best done in fall.
This shrub is particularly well adapted to growing in pots. For that, use planting or horticultural soil mix.
Cape mallows can bloom all year long as long as temperatures stay above freezing.
It is possible to grow Anisodontea indoors. For best results, it is best to simulate a period of dormancy: keep the plant in a cool, well-lit spot, that doesn’t freeze.
It is best to prune at the very beginning of spring to spur blooming.
The ideal pruning window is from the end of winter to the very beginning of spring.
Water your cape mallow only in case of prolonged dry spells and/or heat waves.
Add granulated flower shrub fertilizer in spring.
Overall, caring for cape mallow is straightforward and easy.
Anisodontea, also called Cape mallow, is a beautiful shrub that blooms generously over an extended portion of the year.
Native to South Africa, it grows particularly well in southern temperate climates or along the Atlantic coast.
Even though its foliage is evergreen, a cold spell that lasts more than a couple days will make it lose its leaves.
That’s why it is recommended to leave this plant outdoors only if winters are very mild.
Among the most common and favored varieties, Anisodontea capensis, also called dwarf pink hibiscus, is famed for its pink flowers with a red center. There are also Anisodontea hypomadarum which has magnificent pink blooms, and Anisodontea malvastroides which boasts pastel pink flowers.
Anisdontea is part of the vast Malvaceae or mallow family, just like althea, tree mallow, alyogyne, lime tree, hibiscus, abutilon, marshmallow and also hollyhock.
The name “Anisodontea” comes from the greek word aniso which means “uneven” and odon which means “without teeth”.
Three Anisodontea are commonly grown, and the main thing that sets them apart is the colour of the bloom. Use the table below to pick the shade you want before you buy.
| Variety | Also called | Flower colour |
|---|---|---|
| Anisodontea capensis | Dwarf pink hibiscus | Pink with a red centre |
| Anisodontea hypomadarum | — | Magnificent pink |
| Anisodontea malvastroides | — | Pastel pink |
Whichever you choose, the growing and pruning needs are the same.
Smart tip about Anisodontea
If potted, it is advised to repot the shrub every 1 or 2 years.
If already too large, topdress the soil.
