Jew's mallow is a deciduous shrub that is remarkably tolerant of all conditions. Once planted, you need do little except enjoy its wonderful spring flowers.
'Pleniflora' is the most common variety seen in British gardens. This attractive shrub produces double flowers of a bright orange-yellow that look like shaggy golden balls. It grows taller and more erect than the parent species.
Planting and care
Jew's mallow makes few demands on the busy gardener. It can withstand drought and thrives in most soil types, so long as drainage is good.
Buy a plant that is about 60-90cm in height. Plant. container-grown Jew's mallow at any time except during drought and freezing conditions.
Water the new shrub regularly. Once planted it grows into a bushy and vigorous thicket, and is very hardy, recovering from the harshest of winters to provide a beautiful spring display.
Jew's mallow in spring
All varieties of Jew's mallow guarantee a cheery and colourful display in the spring garden.
Try the delicate parent species or the pomponflowered variety such as 'Pleniflora' which is more vigorous and stands more erect. The single-flowered 'Variegata' variety has wiry arching stems and leaves with a soft variegation of creamy white.
Propagating
The two easiest methods of propagating Jew's mallow are to divide the roots or to take cuttings.
• Carefully dig up a length of root with a shoot attached and plant it in prepared ground.
• Take cuttings of semi-ripe wood in early summer. They should be about 10cm long. Place them in a cold frame (outdoor box providing protection). These can be planted out in spring.
• Take hardwood cuttings in winter. They need to be about 15cm long. Plant into a nursery bed where they should root over the winter. A full year later, in the spring, move the cuttings to their desired position.
The double-flowered 'Pleniflora 'has an abundance of multi-petalled flowers along its bright green stems.
TIP - INDOOR DISPLAYS
The bright blooms of Jew's mallow make a stunning indoor display.
Its sprays of vivid colour are attractive in spring flower arrangements. Its slender, light green stems, with their bright, jagged leaves, look decorative in a winter flower arrangement even before the flowers appear.
POPULAR VARIETIES
'Pleniflora': The most popular and vigorous variety, it has attractive orange-yellow double flowers and reaches up to 2.4m in height.
'Golden Guinea': Much larger, single buttercup shaped flowers of a distinctive golden yellow.
'Variegata'('Picta'): One of several varieties with variegated leaves. It is lowgrowing and less hardy with attractive, white-edged leaves and single flowers.