Malva x clementii Candy Floss - Lavatère arbustive, Mauve en arbre

The Lavatera ‘Candy Floss’, now named Malva × clementii ‘Candy Floss’, is a shrubby tree mallow with a long flowering period of pale pink blooms. Fast-growing, it forms a rounded bush in one or two seasons, adorned with silky flowers reminiscent of small hollyhocks. Their pastel hue, enhanced by grey-green foliage, is particularly suited to romantic gardens, vicar's gardens and coastal borders. This excellent variety received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1997.

'Candy Floss' belongs to the Malvaceae family. It is derived from Malva × clementii, a hybrid between Malva olbia, native to the Mediterranean basin, and M. thuringiaca, widespread from Europe to temperate Asia. It is still very often sold under its former name of Lavatera × clementii. It is a perennial undershrub, whose base becomes woody, developing long floriferous shoots after spring pruning. Its upright, well-branched growth habit usually reaches 1.50 m in height with a spread of 1.20 to 1.50 m. In a coastal garden or under a very mild climate, a lightly pruned plant can become more substantial. The stems bear ovate to cordate leaves, divided into three to five shallow lobes. Their slightly downy surface gives them a grey-green tint; the underside is paler and more felted. The foliage persists for part of the winter in mild regions, but disappears after hard frosts. From June to September, sometimes until October when autumn is kind, the flowers follow one another on the upper part of the young shoots. They measure 5 to 7 cm in diameter and open into wide cups formed of five slightly notched petals. Of a soft pink colour, these petals are traversed by fine, slightly darker veins. The buds present along the stems open gradually, over several weeks. The flowers particularly attract bees and butterflies. This tree mallow grows in full sun in ordinary soil, even chalky or rather poor. Once well established, it tolerates dry spells, but occasional watering will sustain flowering during very hot summers. It fears stagnant moisture in winter more than lack of water in summer. Its stump withstands frosts close to -12 °C in well-drained soil and a sheltered position. In colder regions, place it against a south- or west-facing wall and protect its base in winter.

This 'Candy Floss' variety finds its place at the back of a sunny border, in a small flowering hedge or near a terrace. It pairs well with the blue-pink flowers of the Verbena rigida ‘Polaris’ and the mauve stars of the Aster turbinellus. To compose a border of shrubby mallows, it can be paired with ‘Barnsley’, almost white with a pink centre, and ‘Burgundy Wine’, of a deeper purplish pink. In soil that does not dry out too much, it also forms beautiful associations with romantic shrub roses such as ‘Felicia’, silver-pink and apricot, or ‘Bouquet Parfait’, creamy white tinged with soft pink. In a coastal garden, it tolerates sea spray, but shelter it from strong winds which may break its long stems.