Hardiness zones
Sunset 12-24
USDA 9 - 11

Landscape Use: Spring flowering specimen accent for oasis and xeric landscape gardens

Form & Character: Small to medium size perennial shrub, informal, very open, upright and reaching

Growth Habit: Deterministic to 4' - 6' in height. Growth rate enhanced by supplemental water

Foliage/Texture: New growth densely white tomentose, leaves have a rather long petiole and are nearly orbicular to reniform in shape, 5 angled or lobed, 2" long, medium texture

Flowers & Fruits: Large and colorful flowers at terminal and axillary meristems, 1 to 2 per meristem, petals white to pink to purple, overlapping, each flower contains a 5-starred pistil that is superjacent to yellow anthers; fruit a 9 to 13-valved mericarp.

Seasonal Color: In Phoenix, lavatera flowers in early spring.

Temperature: Freeze sensitive, though this is not a problem in most of Phoenix

Light: Full sun

Soil: Tolerant

Watering: Infrequent to regular means slightly drought tolerant

Pruning: Head back after flowering

Propagation: Easy from seed

Disease and pests: None

Additional comments: Nice herbaceous flowering accent plant for oasis and xeric gardens. Flowers stand out strikingly against a relatively sparely branched and open canopy. Close relative of hibiscus.