Plant Finder

Other Names:  Checker Mallow

Description:

This is a frilly pink flowered variety for the middle of a border; soft colored and fringed petals are translucent and pleasing to the eye; cut to the ground fading flower spikes to encourage a second flush of blooming in autumn

Ornamental Features

Elsie Heugh Prairie Mallow has masses of beautiful spikes of shell pink frilly flowers with lavender streaks rising above the foliage from early to mid summer, which emerge from distinctive pink flower buds, and which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its round leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Elsie Heugh Prairie Mallow is an herbaceous perennial with a rigidly upright and towering form. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Elsie Heugh Prairie Mallow is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Elsie Heugh Prairie Mallow will grow to be about 20 inches tall at maturity extending to 30 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.