Lavatera assurgentiflora
Island Mallow

Invite a little windswept island romance into the garden with Lavatera assurgentiflora, now also accepted as Malva assurgentiflora. This fast-growing Channel Islands native shrub dresses itself in fresh, maple-like leaves and a long procession of silky rose-pink flowers, each dramatically etched with deeper veins. The hibiscus-like blooms appear from spring into fall, glowing against the green foliage and giving the plant an easy, generous beauty. Bold in scale but relaxed in spirit, island mallow brings instant exuberance to coastal and dry-climate landscapes.

With room to develop, it can reach 10–12 feet tall and create a substantial garden presence in remarkably little time. Use it as an informal screen, a wind-resistant coastal hedge, or a dramatic background shrub where its loose, natural habit can move freely. It is especially striking in roomy naturalistic and Mediterranean-style plantings, where its abundant flowers and handsome foliage can be appreciated from a distance.

Grow in full sun near the coast or part sun in hotter inland gardens, in well-drained soil. Established plants are drought tolerant, though inland gardens benefit from periodic summer water. Pruning after a main flush of bloom helps maintain a fuller, more manageable framework.

Explore more California native shrubs and trees.

We guarantee that the plants we sell are healthy and viable at the time they leave our care.

If a plant arrives in substandard condition, please take clear photographs and contact us within 48 hours of delivery. To ensure eligibility under this guarantee, we strongly encourage you to open and unpack your shipment immediately upon delivery and inspect the plants thoroughly.

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$14.99 flat rate for up to 6 plants is for standard FedEx/UPS Ground shipping to eligible states only. $19.99 for up to 12 plants. Plants being shipped to the following states are sent via Express Mail to help ensure they arrive quickly and healthy. 

(AL, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IN, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VT, VA, WV)
(list of states subject to change seasonally due to extreme heat or cold conditions)

We cannot ship Annie's Annuals plants to P.O. boxes or outside the continental U.S.

Individual plants are shipped in 4" pots and we ship in boxes of 4, 6, 8, or 12 plants per box.

For more details, read our full Ordering and Shipping Policies

Get your plants off to a strong start with our care guide.

Download the Plant Care Guide (PDF)