Lavatera trimestris

Lavatera trimestris (annual mallow) seeds for big, satiny trumpet flowers on fast, bushy plants. Showy, easy summer colour.
Filter
6 products

Lavatera trimestris — annual mallow

Lavatera trimestris is the botanical name for the annual mallow, one of the showiest annuals you can raise from a packet, smothered in large, satiny, trumpet-shaped flowers all summer. It is the species behind our lavatera range within the flower seed collection.

History & origin

Native to the Mediterranean, this fast-growing mallow has long been valued in cottage and seaside gardens for the sheer generosity of its bloom, thriving in warm, sunny spots where many annuals struggle.

The genus was named in honour of the Lavater brothers, Swiss naturalists and physicians; trimestris means “of three months,” a nod to how quickly the plant races from seed to full flower.

Botanical characteristics

A fast, bushy hardy annual reaching a metre or more, lavatera carries broad, glossy leaves and a long succession of wide, silken trumpets in pink, white and rose, each marked with darker veins. The open, nectar-rich blooms draw bees all summer, fitting neatly among our pollinator flowers, and stand among the most reliable of our annual flowers.

Growing Lavatera trimestris from seed

Sow direct where it is to flower once the soil is warm, or start under cover for an earlier display, then thin to give each plant room. Give it full sun and free-draining soil, and avoid over-feeding. Our flower growing guide and flower sowing calendar cover the timing.

Ready to grow lavatera? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Lavatera · Annual Flowers · Pollinator Flowers · Cut Flowers · All Flower Seeds

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

What is Lavatera trimestris?
It is the botanical name for the annual mallow — see the range in our lavatera collection. When should I sow Lavatera trimestris seeds?
Sow direct once the soil is warm, or start under cover a little earlier, then thin the seedlings. What does it need to flower well?
Full sun and free-draining soil; avoid over-feeding, which gives leaves at the expense of flowers. Where do orders ship from?
Every order ships from Meppel, Netherlands with fast, tracked EU delivery.