Lavatera arborea Tree Mallow PFAF Plant Database

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Summary

Taxonomic Note: This genus was formerly classified in the family Tiliaceae. Modern classifications include it within the Malvaceae.

Physical Characteristics

Lavatera arborea is a BIENNIAL growing to 3 m (9ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate.
It is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:

Young leaves - raw or cooked. A mild flavour, but the leaves are dry and hairy and not that agreeable in quantity on their own[K]. They can be used as part of a chopped mixed salad[K].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Poultice

A poultice made from the leaves is used to treat sprains[4].

References More on Medicinal Uses

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant, succeeding in any ordinary garden soil in sun or partial shade[1, 187]. Prefers a light well-drained moderately fertile soil in full sun[200]. A soil that is too rich encourages foliar growth at the expense of flowering[200]. Tolerates maritime exposure[200]. Plants are very fast-growing and often flower in their first year from seed[200]. They flower so freely in their second year that they normally die afterwards, though they sometimes perennate[200]. When well sited, this species usually self-sows freely[200]. There are some named forms developed for their ornamental value[200].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow late summer in situ[200]. The seed should germinate within 4 weeks.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

EUROPE: United Kingdom, Ireland, Albania, Greece (incl. Crete), Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Montenegro, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Spain (Canarias), Portugal (Madeira Islands), Algeria (north), Tunisia

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

IUCN Red List

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Lavatera cachemiriana	Lavatera	Perennial	2.4	7-10	F	LMH	N	DM	2	1	1
Lavatera plebeia	Lavatera	Annual/Perennial	1.5	-		LMH	N	DM	2	1	1
Lavatera species	Tree Lavatera	Shrub	2.4	7-10	F	LMH	N	DM	2	0
Lavatera thuringiaca	Lavatera, Tree lavatera	Perennial	1.8	7-10	F	LMH	N	DM	3	0	1
Lavatera trimestris	Annual mallow	Annual	0.8	0-0	F	LM	N	DM	2	0	1

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Expert comment

Author

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment


Jacqui Jones	Mon May 14 2007

I have been lead to believe the leaves from this variety of lavatera were used in Jersey, in olden times, as toilet paper. This informatio was passed on to me by local historians at Hamptonne farmhouse, a Jersey Heritage Site. Do you have any idea where I can source this plant as I would like to grow it near my compost loo!


Ken Fern, Plants for a Future	Thu May 17 2007

Thanks, Jacqui, for your interesting piece of information on this plant. It can be obtained from a number of nurseries in Britain, for full details visit the Plant Finder website at http://www.rhs.org.uk/RHSPlantFinder/plantfinder.asp In addition, it can also be obtained as seed from a number of suppliers. It grows very quickly from seed and this would be my preferred method. Two suppliers are:- Chiltern Seeds http://www.edirectory.co.uk/chilternseeds/ B&T World Seeds http://www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com/ Incidentally, amongst plants that have been used as toilet paper, one of the best I have come across is a New Zealand plant Brachyglottis repanda. One of its common names is Bushman's Toilet Paper and it was widely used by early white settlers in New Zealand. Although not very hardy in ost of Britain, it should succeed with you in the Channel Islands.


PETER JACK	Sun Jul 20 2008

ALTHOUGH LAVATERA ARBOREA SURVIVES IN MILD PARTS OF U.K.,I HAVE NOT YET SEEN AN ATTRACTIVE SPECIMEN; THE PLANTS I HAVE SEEN IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE SMALL FLOWERS AND AN UNTIDY APPEARANCE AND ARE USUALLY SMOTHERED IN APHIDS. THEY PROBABLY NEED A SUNNIER CLIMATE; PLANTS I HAVE SEEN IN THE MED. ARE BEAUTIFUL. I AM TRYING THEM IN MY GARDEN IN CORNWALL IN VERY POOR WELL-DRAINED SOIL. I'LL TELL YOU THE RESULTS.


Peter Jack	Mon Jun 15 2009

I collected seed from wild plants growing by the coast, and now, 11 months later, I have some very attractive plants, with no greenfly and quite large flowers! Perhaps the weather has allowed them to grow so well - they are almost as good as those I have seen in Mediterranean climates. When they have finished flowering, I will prune them hard back and give them a light feed, and see if it is possible to prolong their lives. Perhaps good care will achieve this.

Lavatera arborea - L.