Malope trifida Glacier Fruits - Mallowwort seeds

Malope trifida are annual plants once widely used in gardens, as easy to grow as lavateras, but less well known. Finer and prettier than the latter, they are simply wonderful in the Malope 'Glacier Fruits Mixed' selection, with large funnel-shaped flowers in red, pink, solid or bicolored, shades that are enhanced by the presence of a white form. Very useful for quickly filling space in flower beds, these bushy yet light plants are reliable and heat-resistant. The flowers can also be cut for bouquets. Best sown directly in the ground in spring, in deep and well-drained soil, in a sunny location.

Malope trifida is a herbaceous annual plant in the mallow family, closely related to mallows, lavateras, and roses. It is native to the western Mediterranean, particularly Spain. The 'Glacier Fruits Mixed' blend includes bushy and branching, dense plants reaching 45 to 60 cm (18 to 24in) high. Throughout the summer, large funnel-shaped vibrant and graceful flowers, 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3in) in diameter appear. The silky texture of the petals enhances their colour; the corollas range from pink with a red throat to red with a black throat, veined with darker shades. Some plants have white flowers with a pale green throat. The flowers are short-lived, but the plants produce a profusion of buds that succeed each other throughout the summer. The nectar-rich flowers are followed by seed heads which can be decorative in dry bouquets. The upright and branching stems are covered with slightly glossy, round and trilobed, vibrant green leaves. Malopes develop from a taproot, making transplantation difficult  with well-developed plants. That's why it is best to sow them directly in the ground.

Malope 'Glacier Fruits Mixed' brings strength to the garden in the height of summer and under the scorching sun. This annual easily withstands high temperatures, appearing even more beautiful and floriferous under intense sun. Sow malope in flower beds to quickly create large colourful patches. This plant is valuable for filling gaps in perennial and bushy flower beds, as well as in brand-new gardens. You can plant it with wild mallows, coreopsis, and gauras. Their vibrant yet bright colours allow them to easily blend into any flower bed or garden, perfect with white, acid green and feathery foliage of nigellas or fennel, grasses, or the sky blue flowers of perennial flax.