Malva × clementii Barnsley (2 litre pot)

Long flowering, with hollyhock-like flowers. Position: full sun Soil: light, moderately fertile, well-drained soil Rate of growth: fast Flowering period: June to September Hardiness: fully hardy This popular shrub is grown for the masses of red-eyed flowers that smother its branches from June to September. Initially white in colour, the flowers age to a soft pink, and they look very pretty against the backdrop of deeply lobed grey-green leaves. Extremely long-flowering, this vigorous, semi-evergreen mallow will thrive in a well-drained shrub or mixed border, but needs plenty of space to spread itself out (as it puts on lots of growth in just one season. In cold areas of the country it is best grown against a warm wall to minimise wind and frost damage. Garden care: To prevent the shrub from getting straggly, cut back hard to within 30cm (12in) of ground level in spring, after all risk of severe frosts has passed. After pruning apply a generous 5-7cm mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure round the base of the plant. In exposed areas shorten branches by up to one half in autumn to minimise the risk of wind damage.