False mallow, Prairie mallow
Sidalcea ‘Brilliant’ is a hardy herbaceous perennial growing to around 3-4ft with tall spikes of carmine-red flowers in terminal racemes. Each flower has five petals with prominent stamens.
The common name of Sidalcea implies that these flowers look very similar to those of lavatera and indeed they do. Although not as vigorous as other mallows, they sit well with them and other reliable taller growing plants in the herbaceous border.
Sidalcea are not fussy about growing in poor soils and will tolerate dry conditions in full sun. They do, however, dislike waterlogging over winter.
The stems need cutting back to ground level in the autumn when they die off and a thick mulch over the clump with both feed it and ensure that there is extra frost protection.
Seed can be sown in the autumn, but the clumps are easily divided with a sharp spade in autumn or spring.
