Sidalcea 'Elsie Heugh'

Description: The upright stems are clothed in early to mid summer with pretty soft pink flowers with fringed petals.  A clump forming perennial with deeply divided soft green leaves in a basal rosette.  Resembling small hollyhock the strong stems do need need staking and they do nut suffer from rust.

Uses: Good in any mixed herbaceous border or cottage garden style planting.

Climate/Position: Full sun or partial shade

Height/Spread: 50-100cm tall up to 50cm spread.

Soil Requirements: Any moist well drained soil. Plants are short lived in wet and heavy soils.

Pruning: Cut back flower stems after flowering, this may encourage a second flush.

Special Requirements: 

Additional Interest: Apparently the roots of the mallow used to be laid in water to produce a jelly like substance, and when the 19th century confectioners added sweeteners the first "Marshmallows" were produced. Nowadays, gelatin is used instead.