Malva, Hollyhock Mallow 'Fastigiata'

Last year was the first year I grew this plant, and so far I have been pleasantly surprised. I live in the humid south and hollyhocks qu...Read Moreickly get covered with ugly rust fungus, but this type was totally unaffected. If it does as well this summer I plan to collect seeds and plant a whole lot of it about.

I grew this plant for years and took it with me when I moved. Two years ago, I found out that it was infected with "rust". For fear it ...Read Moremight contaminate other plants, I dug it up and put it in the trash; I was careful to remove all the seedlings. Now I am sorry I did not keep a few seeds, to grow it along the neighbor's fence.

All I have are seedlings of Malva Magic Merlin, some more blue than the original plant, some more red, and some like the original. But this Malva is more invasive than the original "fastigiata".

I have been growing this plant for 3 years and every year the leaves have been eaten by an army of small green worms, I don't use chemic...Read Moreals in my garden, so this is an undesirable plant in the sitting area where I can see it every day. I plan on moving it to an another area hopeing that the birds might benefit feasting on the worms that enjoy this plant.