About

Sidalcea 'Elsie Heugh' is a popular prairie mallow cultivar forming clumps to 1 m with slender spikes of pale-pink, fringed, satin-textured, mallow-like flowers from early to late summer. A rewarding and elegant plant for a sunny, well-drained mixed or herbaceous border.

About the genus

Sidalcea, the prairie mallows or checker mallows, are clump-forming perennials producing rounded, lobed basal leaves, deeply divided stem leaves and slender spikes of funnel-shaped, mallow-like, pink or white flowers in summer. Rewarding and elegant plants for a sunny, well-drained border.

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6

Plant details

Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCoastal, Cottage and informal garden
Native toN & W North America

Care notes

CultivationGrow in well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil in full sun. Tolerates poor, dry soils and exposed coastal conditions. Both male and female plants must be grown together for fruit
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame in autumn, or by greenwood cuttings in early summer
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free